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In my blog yesterday, I expressed the belief that Game 4 of the Western quarterfinal series with the Wild was a test of the Hawks’ playoff viability.

Well, they passed.

But what I’m going to talk about today is not just the fact that they convincingly won a critical road playoff game, taking a stranglehold on the series, but how they did it.

There’s an endless debate among Hawk fans as to whether physical hockey or speed/finesse hockey is better. The truth is, neither is better and both are desirable.

In my opinion, the Hawks could finish a few more checks and be a little harder to play against. But if wishes were fishes, we’d have us a fry.

The point is, the Hawks at their best are not necessarily a speed and finesse team or a physical team—but a great defensive team over 200 feet of ice. And they will be a hard team for anyone to beat if they play that game.

That’s what they were last night, limiting Minnesota to 25 shots and making it relatively easy for Corey Crawford to gain a shutout. The blueliners got caught too deep in the offensive zone once or twice, but it seemed like there was always a forward back to cover. Forwards were backchecking hard all the way down the ice—Brandon Saad, Marian Hossa, Viktor Stalberg, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were all noticeable in this regard.

Joel Quenneville told NBC’s Brian Engblom during an in-game interview that he was very happy with the Hawks’ effort—but they still had another level they can go to. I concur. Full marks to the undermanned Wild who are playing the type of game that gives the Hawks fits, even if it seems they don’t have the horses to pull it off.

The series isn’t over, but Game 5 presents a great opportunity for the Hawks to close it out and then see who they get in round 2: a rested and rolling San Jose or a Detroit club that will likely need a 7-game war to dispatch the Ducks—if they can pull it off at all.

Heroes abounded last night. Marian Hossa was his dominant, cyborg-like self in the offensive zone. Patrick Sharp? Guts, leadership, production. Marcus Kruger? 10-8 in the doit last night, and part of killing all six Wild man advantages. Bryan Bickell? Someone has awakened the sleeping giant. Jonathan Toews? 16-5 in the dot. And a beast all night. Johnny Oduya? 5 blocked shots. Niklas Hjalmarsson and Duncan Keith? The Hawks TOI leaders and both +2. Corey Crawford? A solid, workmanlike shutout and some nice, solid play on some quality Wild chances.

Lots to like. More work to be done.



All for now,


JJ

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