Going Home Early

I remember reading something back in the 2009-10 NHL season saying that the Hawks had potential to be a dynasty, but due to the salary cap it would be a challenge and thus their best shot at the Cup was that magical 2010 playoff run.

The years since have been tough, with this year seeing a painful exit. During this series with Phoenix, I felt just about every emotion a sports fan can feel. Excitement. Disappointment. Joy. Fear. Anger. Depression. And resignation last night when the third puck got by Corey Crawford. I had come to terms with the fact that this incarnation wouldn't be playing again.

As far as playoff series go, this was not a good one... And not because of the outcome. As has been harped on early and often this April, the officiating throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs has been atrocious. You can point to Philly-Pittsburgh as the top example, but this series was equally bad. Early on it seemed like the Hawks couldn't buy a call. We had Flopgate. And even last night there were bad penalties. The one that ticked me off the most was the misconduct on Jimmy Hayes. Not the smartest hit, definitely a 5 minute major for boarding, but it was not a malicious hit. It just looked like it with an injured Coyote. It was reactive officiating again, not proactive.

As much as I harp on the officials sometimes, I'm a firm believer in the concept that referees don't decide games, the players do. And that was absolutely the case here, as most Hawks fans understand. Hawks defenders made some bad turnovers or were caught out of position to lead to big goals. Crawford let in 2 soft goals in overtime in the Madhouse. The offense often tried to do too much. So many times guys like Kane tried to maneuver through traffic rather than pass the puck.

At the same time, Phoenix deserved to win this series. They played phenomenal defense all series, and took advantage of Chicago miscues. But the biggest reason they won was because Mike Smith played out of his mind, especially yesterday. The philosophy is that you need a good goaltender to win a Cup. Mike Smith is a good, even great goaltender. That being said, I don't respect him. As good a net minder he is, trying to win an Oscar is unnecessary. He's a great player, but also a scumbag.

So what about a 2013 run? The Hawks need help on the back end. They're pretty good at forward (aside from needing a 2nd line center), but more physicality at the blue line is a must, and unfortunately Crawford is not the long term answer in goal. Good backup, but that's about it.

This group will be back in the playoffs again next spring. And hopefully then they will have the grit as well as the skill needed to bring Lord Stanley back where he belongs.

Karma in the Desert

I'm getting an opportunity before I go to bed to catch some more playoff hockey and I'm getting a sick sense of joy watching the LA Kings beating up on the Vancouver Canucks. If they make a comeback and end up against the Hawks, I'll talk about these guys. But for now, the 3-6 matchup in the Western Conference has been interesting so far, tied at one game apiece.

I had said last week that Phoenix was a fairly talented team but not one I was too worried about against the Hawks. I was a little overconfident; this Coyotes team is very talented and they've showed some flashes of brilliance. They've earned their way to a division title and to be tied after 2 games in this series.

That being said, many NHL fans have been complaining about the officiating throughout the playoffs, and it's been a problem in this series as well. I didn't catch much of Game 1 because of my work schedule, but saw Phoenix's first goal. They should have been called for a too many men penalty right before the score. Honestly though, the penalty didn't impact the play, and it's Chicago's own fault there for letting Phoenix keep the puck in their zone for almost 2 straight minutes. A goal was bound to happen. The goals on Saturday, however, were another story.

I just missed the play above last night but caught the ensuing Phoenix goal. This came after an earlier bogus goaltender interference on Jonathan Toews where Smith pushed him and got the call. Let me be clear. Andrew Shaw should not have gone after that puck with Smith back there. He deserved a penalty, even if it was a major. A game misconduct may have been a little much, but that should be the end of it.

The main thing I got out of this: Mike Smith earned an Oscar nomination with this play. I watched the hit a few times. Shaw's shoulder clearly gets Smith in the head. But to say Smith embellished the hit is an understatement. I highly doubt someone who allegedly got "knocked out cold" by this hit would get up immediately after finding out Shaw got a game misconduct, then proceeded to finish the game. I showed this clip to my girlfriend, who is not a sports fan, and she said that Shaw tried to get out of Smith's way.

To be fair: I think Mike Smith is a good goaltender. He's made some fantastic saves all series long, and he's been busy. But I also think he's a scummy hockey player based on these plays in Game 2. And many Hawks fans have spoken up about how the overtime win yesterday is karma. I have to agree.

I still think this series is going to the Hawks in 6. The United Center is a nightmare to play in as an opposing player. The Hawks have a 2 game home playoff winning streak, and have won 7 of their last 8 dating back to the 2010 Cup run. The officiating will hopefully be more balanced, and hopefully Brendan Shanahan will realize how badly Smith dove on the Shaw hit and not suspend Shaw (though knowing Shanahan, he'll suspend him for a game and keep up the inconsistency of punishment).

Phoenix, be on watch. You're in the Madhouse now. Let Chelsea Dagger ring on throughout the Chicago night on Tuesday and Thursday.