The home ice party started a little early on Wednesday night and the Blue Jackets outfought the Blackhawks and came away with a 4-3 Shootout victory.
The Hawks did come out ready to attack the Jackets in the 1st period even though they had played in Nashville the previous night. They skated to a 2-0 opening period lead and home ice advantage appeared to be a reality for the first round of the Playoffs.
The record breaking crowd felt the enthusiasm and maybe the Hawks started to celebrate mentally and lost their focus. The Jackets were the more determined Club over the final two periods and their resolve was not to be denied. Columbus deserved the win and now has qualified for the Playoffs for the first time.
Khabibulin was very good again but defensive lapses especially from the Havlat, Toews and Kane line allowed the Jackets to gain one more point than the Hawks. It has been a long grueling season and the Hawks had a very busy stretch before playing Columbus so fans should not be too upset about the outcome.
If I had a magic wand and could add any player from the Western Conference to the current Hawk Roster it would be Rick Nash. It is amazing how he finds the open ice and is able to evade defenders. He is a mountain of a man and one would think he would be easy to track but that is not the case. Nash is a true power forward with great skill and anticipation; his best days are still ahead.
The Hawks may have to face Detroit and pick up at least one point to absolutely guarantee a 4th seed in the Playoffs. That won’t be easy because the Wings won’t want to close out their regular season with two consecutive home losses. The Hawks 4th seed mission may depend on the outcome of Sunday's game at the UC.
As Mike Babcock said last night the Predators were the more determined team throughout the game and that is why the Wings relinquished an early lead and lost in a Shootout. That is similar to what happened to the Hawks at the UC on Wednesday night, the Jackets wanted the game a little more.
The Canucks beat the Kings last night and will face Colorado to end their regular season. The Flames, who now trail Vancouver by two points, have a tougher task as they will battle Edmonton in a home and home series to end their campaign. The Flames have one big advantage over the Canucks in that they will have more total wins in case of a tie in points.
Vancouver will be looking to end their season with 100 points and then have Calgary suffer at least one loss versus the Oilers. That would also setup a Hawk-Flame matchup in the opening round whereby the Hawks would have home ice advantage. If the Canucks lose to the Av’s in Colorado and the Flames split versus the Oilers the Hawks would have home ice once again but would face Vancouver.
The real problem for the Hawks could surface if they don’t come away with at least a tie in either Detroit game and everyone else ends up with 100 points. In that case the Flames would win Northwest Division and the Hawks would fall to a 5th seed and open the Playoffs on the road in Vancouver.
To make it easier on all of us and themselves the Hawks needed to get the point that slipped away against the Jackets. Now they could be forced to play with an all out effort in both games against the Wings.
I am almost certain the Hawks will be playing without Patrick Sharp for awhile.
The story going around the Press Box on Wednesday night was Sharp had suffered a cut on his leg and that was the reason he has been out. I don’t know for sure what type of injury Sharp is dealing with but he was walking like someone who would not be playing hockey in the near future. The Hawks could likely be missing their sniper for some of the first round of Playoff action.
Now that my time at Hockey Buzz is coming to an end I need to thank some people.
First I would like to recognize the Blackhawk Organization and especially former Media Director, Jim De Maria. I am not certain if I was the initial blogger to get credentialed to see every Blackhawk game at the UC but I do know for certain I was one of the first.
Being allowed to watch games from the Press Box, especially before home contests were televised, was a big advantage. I also enjoy watching hockey on TV but there is a lot more to see when viewing a game in person. Jim and the Blackhawks gave me an opportunity to be a small part of the Chicago sports media. My thanks go out to Jim and his successor Brandon Faber who also has been very accommodating.
The NHL is sometimes reluctant to change but the acceptance I received from the Hawk Organization was very helpful. I not only benefitted from being around the action but also made some friends as well.
Next I would like to thank Eklund and all those at Hockey Buzz who have made it possible for me to share my views with all of you over the last three seasons.
When I started at HB I had no previous website writing experience. Over time the power of the internet and the ability to reach a vast audience became apparent to me. Although Ek and I have different views at times he never censored my writing. He trusted that I would be responsible and never wavered. I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me.
I have been fortunate to grow a loyal readership.
I quickly learned that writing to some of the sharpest hockey fans around was a serious responsibility. Those who often read my blogs, especially the core group of followers from the beginning, helped me become a better writer and to also increase my knowledge of the game.
I didn’t have the largest following of readers on HB but those who often commented were respectful even when they disagreed. Over time I believe many began to read my opinions not because they agreed or not but rather because it gave them a different view to think about.
The loyal Hawk fans who continued to read and spread the word to others really provided me with the energy to continue. I will always remember the bond that we have formed and hopefully that will continue on at my new home, ESPNChicago.com.
Lastly I would like to thank my wife and two sons.
None of us can create more hours in the day and my writing did take away from family time. With each passing year I further realize the importance and value of time. My family allowed me to pursue a passion and do something which I truly enjoy. There were many days where my needs took precedence over theirs.
More often than I would have liked, my wife and children were not my number one priority. That is hard for me to admit but at times it was true. If not for their understanding I would not have been able to get the opportunity to write for ESPN Chicago. I am getting better at balancing time but I will always appreciate their acceptance of my selfishness.
I would hope this is not goodbye but rather just… see you later.
Thanks Again,
Al
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