Sunday Fireside Links

After a long weekend in Kansas City and limited internet access, a couple of quick items that I noticed from the past couple days. 

When the Toronto Globe and Mail reported about a false Jonathan Toews injury during the Vancouver series, perhaps their source only told them it was a Hawks center, and they took it upon themselves to immediately come to the conclusion that it was Toews. 

In reality, it was Sammy Pahlsson who probably couldn’t raise his arm over his head as he suffered two shoulder separations during the first round match with Calgary.  Pahlsson never missed a game and, for the most part had an uneventful postseason.

–I’m thinking Dale Tallon subscribes to the ‘Steak Dinner, BOOM!’ philosophy of doing business.  At least, if this is really Martin Havlat’s Twitter.  I’m still skeptical this is the actual Marty Havlat, if only because I feel like his tweets should also be in broken English.

–Watching Pittsburgh’s power play is like watching the Hawks, but with a better engine.  Crosby and Malkin set up on the right side of the ice at the top of the circle and goal line, respectively, a la Kane and Toews.  The majority of the action goes through them.  All I’ll say is, if Malkin starts scoring goals by deflecting pucks off defensemen standing in front, I’m going to start calling for a copyright infringement.

The Real Restricted Breakdown

Thanks to Partrick, here are the updated breakdowns for restricted free agents.  For the record, I knew it changed by 10 percent in each off-season, but math is my kryptonite.  So sue me.  These haven’t been updated for this off-season, so take them for what they’re worth.

$863,156 or less — None

$863,156 – $1,307,812 — 3rd round pick

$1,307,812 – $2,615,625 — 2nd round pick

$2,615,623 – $3,923,437 — 1st and 3rd round pick

$3,923,437 – $5,231,249 — 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick

$5,231,249 – $6,539,062 — Two 1st’s, one 2nd, one 3rd round pick

$6,539,062 or more – Four 1st round picks

Restrictions Apply

There seems to be a bit of confusion and false panic about the restricted free agents the Blackhawks will have this off-season.  Well, allow me to quell your worries.  The Blackhawks have five key restricted free agents: Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland, Cam Barker, Troy Brouwer, and Ben Eager. 

On July 1st, they will become available on the open market for any team to sign to an offer sheet.  However, any team that signs them and the Hawks cannot and/or refuse to match will have to give up draft picks as compensation.  Here’s how it breaks down according the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement:

• Offer Sheet: $660,000 or below — Compensation: None
• $660,000 to $1 Million — Third Round Pick
• Over $1 Million to $2 Million– Second Round Pick
• Over $2 Million to $3 Million — First Round and Third Round Picks
• Over $3 Million to $4 Million — First, Second, and Third Round Picks
• Over $4 to $5 Million — Two Firsts, Second, and Third Round Picks
• Over $5 Million — Four First Round Picks

Now can everyone breathe a little easier? 

Even though, the Hockey News claims Versteeg may be one of the few players to receive an offer sheet, I’m just not buying it.

As you can tell, any team willing to sign Kris Versteeg to an offer sheet, that the Hawks can’t realistically match, will have to give up some high draft picks.  In this economy, I’m having a hard time imagining any team giving up draft picks to sign someone like Versteeg.  It’s just not going to happen.  So Versteeg, Bolland, and Barker will all return and all at reasonable contracts. 

I’m not sure the same can be said for Ben Eager or Troy Brouwer.  Eager may have played his way out of town in the last two games of the Detroit series with his antics.  He tried to incite a riot in Game 4 and in the process, looked like a bozo.  In Game 5, he was responsible for a too many men penalty and received a 10 minute misconduct for mouthing off to officials.

Troy Brouwer is a big, physical winger with no scoring touch.  The Blackhawks have a small village of players like that in Rockford.  No need to pay for Brouwer if you have a bunch of Brouwer Clones.

Just a quick random pointless note about restricted free agents: looking into next off-season, with Kane, Toews, and Keith coming up as restricted free agents, the rules are a little different.  I could definitely see teams offering the $5 million+.  With that being said, no amount of draft picks are worth losing Kane and Toews for, but four first round picks for Duncan Keith, now that’s something I’d be willing to discuss.  Alas, this is all very far away, but I thought it was interesting to think about.   

One team I will be keeping a close eye on this summer is the Edmonton Oilers.  They have a boat load of lousy contracts and two youngsters who may become expendable due to their bad decisions in Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano.  As of now, there is no way they can sign both of them.  Either of those guys would look lovely in the Indian Head.  I’m just saying.

Game 5: Red Wings 2, Blackhawks 1 (OT)

Who knew getting the puck deep into Detroit’s zone could be so difficult?

The Hawks wasted plenty of chances tonight to get pucks deep into Detroit’s zone and tee off on their depleted defensive corps.  Instead, the Hawks made it too easy for the Wings to gain entry into the offensive zone with a full head of steam.  Too many times, they coughed up pucks in the neutral zone and let Detroit go to their bread and butter, their neutral zone transition.

For two periods, the much-maligned Cristobal Huet and the no longer worthy of any criticism Chris Osgood turned in a classic goaltenders’ dual.  Both goalies came up with a number of terrific saves to keep their teams in the game.  Unfortunately for the Hawks, it was always the wrong guy who had his puck on his stick.

Colin Fraser and Troy Brouwer had enough opportunities between them to light a village.  Fraser had two point blank shots from about ten feet out and each time Osgood was better.  Brouwer led the Hawks with 5 shots.  

In the third period, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien each had an opportunity to clear the defensive zone but failed.  When the puck found Brett Lebda’s stick on the blue line, it was only a matter of time before it found twine.  It did when his knuckling puck was deflected by Phil EspositoDan Cleary past Huet’s short side. 

Six minutes later, Patrick Kane found the most room he’s had all series and made the Wings pay by putting together a highlight reel goal.  He picked up the puck at center ice, made a slick move around Jiri Hudler, then went right past Brett Lebda.  Osgood gave him about an inch of space over his shoulder and Kane found it with a wicked back-hander. 

The goal breathed some life into a Hawks team on life support.  They had a ton of shots to close out regulation.  Adam Burish and Dustin Byfuglien were both denied from in close. 

Cristobal Huet, though, came up with the save of the night in the waning seconds.  Marian Hossa blew right past Duncan Keith and came in with Johan Franzen.  Hossa pushed the puck towards Franzen who had to turn around to pick it up.  Huet, meanwhile, was flat on his belly.  Franzen picked the puck on his backhand and shoveled it towards the net.  In a last ditch effort, Huet lifted his leg to stone Franzen and send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Hawks looked extremely tentative and the Wings looked like a team determined to close out the series.  It didn’t take long, either. 

After the Hawks performed another fire drill in their own zone led by Matt Walker standing at the top of the circles, Darren Helm banged it home on a scramble in front of the net. 

Just like that, it was game over.  Series over.  Season over. 

Leftover Thoughts from Game 5

–If there is any saving grace to the Hawks season ending, it’s that we should never, ever, ever see Matt Walker in a Blackhawks uniform again.  Walker displayed again tonight why he is an eighth defenseman.  In overtime, with the Hawks scrambling in their own end, Walker found himself in no-man’s land standing at the top of the circles.  When the puck came down low, the Wings outnumbered the Hawks 3 to 2 and it didn’t take long to outscore them 2-1.

I really wouldn’t have a problem with Walker if he would just realize who he was: a defenseman with limited skills.  Maybe playing most of the year with Brian Campbell made Walker think he was someone else, but most of his mistakes are caused by his delusion that he can push the puck up.  He can’t.  So, goodbye sir, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 

–Can’t blame Cristobal Huet for this one.  His performance tonight should get most of the fans off his back for a little while.  At least, until he gives up his first goal of the 2009-2010 campaign.  Most of the year, he was playing under the pressure of his contract and the scrutiny of a strict goaltender rotation.  Now after living through it, I fully expect him to bounce back and have a season better than the one he just put together. 

–Where was this Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook for most of this series?  Other than the last rush in regulation, they put together a game that makes you wonder what if they played like this the whole series.  This kind of performance is what we should’ve seen from Game 1.

–So all the people that wanted Kris Versteeg benched in Game 4, you got your wish in tonight’s game.  Versteeg only saw 12 minutes of ice time with Q deciding that offensive juggernauts Colin Fraser and Troy Brouwer were more important to the team’s success tonight.  Yes, Versteeg can be maddening with the puck in the neutral zone but he is dangerous.  That’s more than Fraser or Brouwer could say.

–I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, but Patrick Sharp only seeing 12 minutes is a tad bit curious.  There have been whispers that he’s been playing with a significant injury since getting his knee sliced against Nashville.  If Sharp isn’t hurt, Q needs to answer why in a must-win game, would he feel that Brouwer and Fraser were more deserving of ice-time over one of his offensive leaders.   

–Here is the most important thing the Hawks learned in the playoffs:  The Kids can Play.  When I say kids, I mean the franchise, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.  When the playoffs started, no one really knew what to expect from them.  Well, here’s what:  Kane finished second on the team in scoring with 9 goals and 5 assists.  Toews finished third with 7 goals and 6 assists.  That is by far, the most positive thing to come out of this long journey.

–Well, this is the end of the road.  But don’t fret friends of the Feather, Bob and I will be here with you through the summer.  Here’s what you can expect from us: A diary of the NHL Draft which I believe is in a month, a recap of each player’s season, any transactions, and plenty of other random thoughts.  The updates may not be every day like during the season, but at least 4 to 5 times a week.

Here’s something you won’t see:  We will not respond to every ridiculous rumor that pops up on the Internet.  It’s too time consuming and in the end, it’s mostly a waste of time.  The only time we’ll use something is when it’s just too preposterous not to post.  In the mean time, feel free to let us know if there’s anything else you want us to cover. 

I’m already making a promise to you now, we will spend more time next year giving some in-depth looks at guys in Rockford and juniors. 

This is the end, my only friend, the end….

The Final Stand?

Goalies are weird.  I would venture that probably 95% of people who watch a game have no idea what they’re looking at when there’s a guy between the pipes (Bobby and myself at the top of that list).  Ask someone why Marty Brodeur is such a good goalie and you’ll probably hear, “Because he stops the puck a lot.”

You won’t hear anything about footwork or angles or positioning because no one really has a clue what a goalie is trying to do in order to prevent the shot from getting past him.  If it were as easy as “Just stop the puck”, then why do parents send their kids to goalie schools and why would teams hire goaltending coaches? 

On the surface, it seems so simple, yet pull away the layers, and it really is a science.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m goaltending ignorant, which is also why I hesitate to criticize them. 

I have no idea if a goalie was lucky or trying to bait the shooter or the passer or whatever.  It’s not something I really understand so I’m not going to speak out of turn and sound like a pinhead.  I do that enough when I kind of know what I’m talking about.

If you came here for hard-core goalie strategy or goalie bashing, you’re clearly in the wrong place.  

This leads me to the bigger picture.  

In what should come as a surprise to no one, Cristobal Huet has become the center of the Blackhawks Universe.  Leave it to Tim Sassone to be the voice of reason.   He even takes some of his media brethren to task for being panic button- pushing alarmists.

“(Tonight) is going to be a game where we fight for our lives and we want to play better, myself first, obviously,” Huet said. “It’s going to be 60 or more minutes that’s going to decide our future.”

Interesting choice of words, but Huet’s future with the Hawks likely isn’t as shaky as some bandwagon-jumping media members might think. He has three more years remaining on the four-year, $22.54 million contract he signed as a free agent last July, and Hawks general manager Dale Tallon appears committed to him going forward to the 2009-10 season.

You tell ‘em Tim.  The only thing I would disagree with in his whole article is that Tallon is committed to him because he really has no choice.  No team is going to take on money in this climate and the Hawks have no one else to take his spot.

Of course, that won’t stop the fans from turning Huet into Cristobal Grossman if things should turn south tomorrow evening.

–This could very well be the final game of the season tomorrow.  Any one who has followed the comments recently has seen the theme mostly turn to what is going to happen in the off-season.  All I can tell you is, it is infinitely more exciting to talk about now than to actually experience.

The summer will be so slow, you’ll be begging for games.  So please, savor what could be the final moments of the season because once it’s gone, there’s only so many times you can break down the salary cap and Blackhawks depth chart before you want to put staples in your head.  

–There’s been a considerable amount of talk in this playoffs about experience.  Is it that important?  Does it really exist?  Well, here’s a quote from Patrick Kane that shouldn’t go unnoticed:

“The [Wings] back-check harder than any other team in the league,” Hawks winger Patrick Kane, 20, said. “Even with all the offense they have, they really come back hard and you never really see too many odd-man rushes against them.

“For some young guys in here we can really take from that and learn from that. When you see guys like [Pavel] Datsyuk and [Henrik] Zetterberg really back-checking hard we know we have to do it too.”

 But, what does Kane know?  He’s just a lazy showboater who the Hawks should trade the first chance they get.

–I keep forgetting to bring this up, but now that Pat Foley is no longer a part of our lives, the new drinking game  during telecasts should be “Sustaining Momentum“.  Every time Edzo, Mike Emrick, Pierre Maguire, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, or Brian Engblom says the word ‘momentum’ take a drink. 

Ten minutes into the game, you’ll probably be running around in your underwear.  By the end of the game, you’ll look like Havlat after Kronwall got done with him.

Why is it so difficult for ‘experts’ to articulate what is actually happening in the game?  Certainly, there is more to the Red Wings weak side defenseman being wide open in the offensive zone than just momentum.  At least, I hope so.

Three and a Half Men

Before I get to the main course, I guess I should probably address the numerous posts recently about Edzo and post game press conferences.  These things have NOTHING to do with the final outcome of the game.   Since when have people become so sensitive that they become absolutely outraged because a color commentator calls it like he sees it?  Right now, he’s an employee of Versus and NBC, not the Chicago Blackhawks.  Quite frankly, it’s an enormous waste of time and energy.

Joel Quenneville probably disagrees, but post-game press conferences are for the most part, an entirely pointless and meaningless exercise.  What Mike Babcock says after a game will not affect the next game and it shouldn’t make you want to rip his lungs out.  Why spike your blood pressure because a coach is giving his opinion? 

Ok, now that that’s finished, here’s what will probably end up being the final ”Committed Indian” article Bobby and I write for this season.  It’s a little different; hope you enjoy it.

_________________________________________________________  

[John (J) and Bob (B) from FifthFeather.com enter a United Center conference room where they sit across from Rocky Wirtz (RW), John McDonough (JM) and Dale Tallon (DT).  An ominous figure stands in the shadows.]

JM:  Guys, thanks for coming.  We’ve been impressed with your work on the blog, FifthFeather.com, and in The Committed Indian.  We wanted to bring you guys in and see what your thoughts were on what we’re planning this summer.  And, no one’s giving up on these playoffs or beating Detroit yet; we’re just not sure you’ll be in The Committed Indian again before next season.

B: Well, thanks for having us. It’s our pleasure.  And, thanks for the complimentary Winter Classic pouch thongs, Mr. McDonough.  I haven’t seen these in stores…

J: Before we start, can I ask something?  How come you guys are always hounding the people selling The Committed Indians?  It’s their First Amendment right to stand out there.

RW:  Haha, of course I know that.  It’s just a tradition passed down in my family.  I put home games on TV for you; the least you can do is allow me to keep harassing them.

J: Fair enough.

DT:  On to business: As you know, we have some guys up for new paper this summer.  What do you guys think of a five-year, $10 million deal for Matt Walker?

[John lunges across the table.  Bob intercepts his outstretched hands before they reach the GM’s neck.]

B:  John, he’s joking!

DT: Of course I am.  Who do I look like, Pully?  Although I promised Q we’d sign Walker and that the two could be roommates on the road next season, his time has come to move on.

J:  Sorry, Dale.  Well in my opinion, your summer should break down like this: Get Barker, Versteeg and Bolland signed to reasonable contracts – nothing that will cripple your cap.  If they make it to July 1^st without a contract and some team is foolish enough to sign them to offer sheets you can’t realistically match, then wave bye-bye.  That will give you more money to re-sign Havlat, but under no circumstances should you sign him to anything over five years. 

RW: Interesting.

J: It’s also important to get Kane and/or Toews locked up sometime this decade.  The last thing this franchise needs is to re-live the 1998 season all over again.  And, you need to seriously ask yourself, is Dustin Byfuglien here to stay, or can we pull in a king’s ransom after half of Canada wants to adopt him after the series he put together against Calgary and Vancouver?

B: I agree with my partner, and I think it’s important to hold the course with the defensemen.  With Seabrook and Campbell already signed and Barker due new paper, it’s time to take care of Duncan Keith, who did you all a little favor by playing like James Wisniewski after four beers and a knee surgery during the playoffs.  If Keith is the ace of this defensive staff, perhaps this offseason is a good time to talk extension.  Let Walker and Aaron Johnson walk, and then out of Hjalmarsson, Sopel and Hendry, you should have a nice set of six or seven defensemen.   

JM: And, what did you guys think of the marketing campaign this year?

B: I thought it was terrific.  The Kane and the little kid commercial: outstanding.  We all could’ve done without the “W” flags, though.

JM:  Yeah, I know, I couldn’t help myself.  It’s just too easy.  People see anything that has to do with the Cubs and they drool all over themselves while they reach into their wallets.  I can’t explain it.

[Suddenly, someone bursts through the conference room door.  It’s a stumbling Bobby Hull (BH) wearing leopard print earmuffs!]

BH:  Is this the Legends Club? 

RW:  Oh, Jesus, Bobby.  Dale, call the B.H. Crew.

BH: Anybody hear the one about why girl goalies aren’t as good as boy goalies?

B:  Who’s the B.H. Crew?!?

JM: Oh, the Bobby Hull Crew.  They’re responsible for making sure Bobby doesn’t pass out in public or wear animal print earmuffs again.

[Well-dressed men in sunglasses and earpieces quickly enter room and remove the once-golden jet.  As he’s dragged from the room, Hull screams, “It’s because girl goalies have a bigger five-hole!”]

DT: Anyway, Mr. McDonough, if you don’t mind, I wanted to ask them their thoughts on re-upping Marty.

J: Well, my partner and I kind of disagree on this one.  If he’s not going to take a pay cut, I think you have to let him walk.  You can’t sign someone with his track record to more than four or five years.  If you think the fans will be upset with you for losing him to another team, just wait to see what they say when he’s making $7 million next year and playing in 50 games.  You’ll have a full-scale riot in the 300 level.  Not to mention, in his best season, he got you 77 points.  Kane gave you 70 in his second season and people felt like he left a ton of points on the ice.

B: Well, for me the question is, do you think Martin Havlat is more valuable than Byfuglien and Sharp?  A healthy and happy Havlat could give you just as much production as those two.  You sign Havlat; you find suitors for the other two, and everything could be hunky dory.

J: Now the whole goalie thing: how did that go down last year?

JM:  That’s on me.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I got drunk one night last year during the playoffs watching the Capitals and Flyers.  I begged Dale to sign Huet – practically held a gun to his head.

DT: You did hold a gun to my head, you psycho!

JM: Oh, it was a ‘Patrick Kane for Rookie of the Year’ squirt gun, Dale.  Get over it! 

J:  That’s fine.  Goalies are wacky.  He had a decent year and Khabby has been no great shakes in the playoffs.  As long as Huet gets off to a strong start next year that should get the fans off your back.  He’ll be fine.

[Another person bursts through the conference room door.  This time it’s former Blackhawk Michael Handzus (MH), and he’s crying.]

MH: Oh, Dale!  Dale!  Please take me back!  Please!  Chicago looks so fun!  The Kings are terrible, and I hate L.A.!

DT: Michael, you had your chance, and you blew it.  Forty points for a second line center doesn’t cut it around here anymore.

RW:  Security! Get this Encino man nutjob out of here.  Again, I apologize. 

J: No problem.

B: Maybe you guys should get a lock for this room…

J: So … when are you guys going to extend Dale’s contract? 

[The ominous figure now makes his way to the table.  It’s Scotty Bowman.  He whispers something to Wirtz and McDonough.] 

RW:  Ok, time’s up.  Thanks for coming in.  See ya in October.

Game 4: Red Wings 6, Blackhawks 1

Oh, nothing to see here.  Move on…

For the Wings, it was no Lidstrom, no Datsyuk; no problem.  And, the Wings’ transition game continues to be the difference in a series that certainly isn’t as close as it seemed 24 hours ago.

The game started poorly and wouldn’t get any better.  After Henrik Zetterberg took a holding call on Dustin Byfuglien, Cam Barker rattled a long range shot off the post on the power play.  A Wing found himself without a stick, and the Hawks sustained pressure on the man advantage; that is, until four Hawks got caught below the Wings’ goal line chasing a dump-in.  A loose puck squirted out to Marian Hossa along the half-boards, and he and Valtteri Filppula went in on a 2-on-1.  Hossa received a give-and-go pass back right in front of Cristobal Huet, and gave the Wings a lead they wouldn’t lose.

A little more than 10 minutes later, Johan Franzen scored a mirror image of the first goal of the series tallied by Daniel Cleary on Nikolai Khabibulin.  Franzen skated down the boards on Huet’s glove side and flipped a weak wrist shot that beat Huet to the far side. 

Then, it happened: a seemingly routine dust-up involving each of the players out on the ice following the first period.  But, when the Blackhawks emerged from the dressing room for the second period, Joel Quenneville was told Matt Walker received a penalty for roughing.  Quenneville turned redder than the Red Wings home sweater, screaming at the referees.  Filppula scored on the ensuing power play, and Quenneville called the roughing penalty “the worst call in the history of sports” in his post-game news conference.

After Detroit’s Brett Lebda put a puck into the stands, Jonathan Toews scored his seventh of the playoffs on the power play.  But, the story of the power play was what happened just after it.  Just 12 seconds following the Hawks’ lone tally, Marian Hossa found himself in behind Brian Campbell.  He fought off Kris Versteeg en route to the net, and put another puck past Huet.  The goal essentially erased the Hawks’ tally and signaled the end of any fight the Hawks had.

After that, the Hawks took 12 penalties, including a 10-minute misconduct and game misconduct for Eager and back-to-back penalties for Kris Versteeg.  The first was a blatant cross check, and the second was a roughing call received on his way out to the play from the penalty box.  Though the second was nearly as bad as the Matt Walker call, it highlighted the Hawks’ struggle to compete while maintaining composure in the late stages of the game.  Zetterberg would take advantage of the penalties, scoring the Wings’ fifth and sixth goals of the game.

Leftover Thoughts from Game Four:

- The Matt Walker play was indeed a phantom call.  While it may not have been the “worst call in the history of sports,” it allowed the Wings to take a three-goal lead just before the Hawks would score their own power play tally.  What could have been a one-goal game was a two-goal defecit.

The bad news?  It wouldn’t have mattered.  The Hawks weren’t even close on Sunday afternoon.  The referees could have given Hossa and Zetterberg Game Misconducts in the first period, and the Hawks still would have lost.

- Of course, Cristobal Huet was pulled (and later re-inserted) during Sunday’s game.  Huet was undoubtedly awful, but he’ll have to recover for Wendesday’s game in Detroit, which he’ll start.

While it certainly makes the Blackhawks’ offseason goaltending situation more interesting, I’ll make it less intriguing for you: the Hawks aren’t re-signing Khabibulin.  Unless the economy destroys his market, Khabby will go take decent money for decent years elsewhere.  The Hawks cannot offer him that.

- Martin Havlat was again knocked out of Sunday’s tilt.  He looked out of it during his heavy minutes in the first period, and I’d again be surprised if he played Wednesday.

- A lot of Chicagoans are angry with Eddie Olczyk’s non-homerism on the Versus and/or NBC telecast.  What’s much freakier, though, is Pierre McGuire’s intermission orgies with Mike Millbury. 

McGuire enjoys role playing with Millbury, asking the former Bruin to “be the coach” while McGuire tries his best to hold down a massive erection.  Then, McGuire gets his opportunity to play the coach, telling the world what Mike Babcock must be telling his team before that particular period.

Pierre, you’re freaking me out.  And, you’re getting me horny.

Game 4 @ 2:00 p.m. CST in Chicago

Heading into today’s game four, the big story is each team’s injury troubles.

According to numerous media outlets, Chris Draper will miss Sunday’s game four and Pavel Datsyuk’s status will be determined shortly before the game.

On the other end, the Blackhawks’ Nik Khabibulin and Martin Havlat are likely out for the tilt. 

For Martin Havlat, the hit which caused his injury has been the subject of great debate.  Of course, most Hawk fans believe it was a dirty hit and most Wing fans believe it wasn’t.  (Kudos to Feather readers, who, again, managed to bring objective views to the situation.)  What’s important now is Havlat’s health and his ability to contribute against the Wings in the near future.  Given that Havlat appeared to sustain a concussion on Friday, it is very unlikely he’ll be available for today’s game and nearly as unlikely he’ll be able to play in games five or six.  Remember, though, I’m no doctor.

Enter stage left Colin Fraser, who has played only once during the playoffs.  That came in game three against the Calgary Flames in Calgary when Patrick Kane wasn’t able to go due to the flu.  The Hawks lost 4-2, though that wasn’t the fault of Fraser.  He’ll likely take Patrick Sharp’s spot on the fourth line, and it’s anyone’s guess after that.  Perhaps Quenneville puts together a checking line with Pahlsson in the middle, perhaps with Ladd and Brouwer on the wings.  Perhaps not.  There’s little precedent for playing without Havlat this year; Havlat has missed only one game this entire season.

As for Khabibulin, my money’s on him missing the rest of the playoffs – regardless of how far the Blackhawks get without him.  Khabibulin suffered the infamous “lower body injury” twice during the regular season: once in late November and once again in mid-February.  Each time Khabby missed at least three weeks, and his injury in February kept him out over a month.  On the bright side, Khabibulin hasn’t exactly been the rock the Hawks hoped he could be in the playoffs.  While he certainly has not been bad, perhaps it is time to give Cristobal Huet, a bona fide number one goalie himself, a chance to beat the Wings.

Additionally, I’m reminded of the season-long debate of what the Hawks should do with their goaltending situation.  It was our position that Tallon keep both goaltenders, saying it could seriously aid the Hawks in a situation like … well, this one.  Yes, it cost the Hawks almost $13 million this season and signing Huet while Khabibulin’s big money was still on the books was surely a mistake by Tallon, but it could now benefit the Hawks this playoff season like little else could.

Committed to the Indian

For those going to the game, the Fifth Feather is featured in The Committed Indian.  Support Sam and his excellent publication by buying a copy outside the UC before the game begins.  For those of you not going this afternoon, as usual, we’ll post our contribution in the next few days.

Game 3: Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)

You can’t stop Matt Walker; you can only hope to contain him. 

In the most unlikely of events, the much-maligned Matt Walker had a terrific shift in overtime.  He took a puck along the boards, skated behind the net, and started a cycle with Patrick Sharp.  When Niklas Lidstrom snapped his stick on Sharp, the puck came back to the point. 

Barker saw Walker alone on the far side.  Walker took the lane given to him and blasted a low hard one on net.  The rebound sat around in front, Sammy Pahlsson made a heads up play to feed Sharp on the weak side wing and that was all she wrote.

Winning the game was the biggest thing, but the Hawks certainly didn’t score any style points with this one.

After Gordie Howe Dan Cleary gave the Hawks a 4 minute power play with a high stick early in the first, Dave Bolland received a cross ice pass from Havlat, spotted a wide open Brent Seabrook, and he blasted it toward the net.  Sharp got a piece of it and the Hawks notched the first goal of the game for the third time this series. 

Just a minute later, Andrew Ladd picked up a loose puck and fired it low.  Chris Osgood made the first save, but he coughed up a juicy rebound and Ladd squeezed it through his legs to give the Hawks a dreaded two goal lead. 

Five minutes later, the Hawks had their opportunity to put Detroit away for good.  Niklas Kronwall received a five minute major for absolutely destroying Martin Havlat.  The Hawks couldn’t get anything going and they left the door open for a Detroit comeback. 

Then in the second period, Duncan Keith pinched to keep a loose puck in the Detroit end.  After his shot hit Pahlsson’s stick, it went through Osgood’s legs and the Hawks went up three with 39 minutes to go.

It looked like Detroit was more than willing to toss this game out and start over in Game Four.  

The Hawks, meanwhile, decided it was a good idea to take penalty after penalty and the Wings started to control the play.  They killed off the first two penalties but when Dave Bolland was called for a ticky-tack hook, it was only a matter of time.

A minute and a half into the power play, Marian Hossa found Lidstrom with a little room and he blasted a shot past Khabibulin.  On the way to the net, the puck glanced off Pahlsson’s skate and Khabibulin didn’t have much of a chance.

For the remainder of the period, the Hawks treated their defensive zone like a fire drill.  Guys were running around trying to cover other people’s assignments.  Detroit’s weak side point was wide open every time and what looked like a blowout, turned into a 3-3 game within five minutes. 

The mystery man, Cristobal Huet, came in for the third period after Khabibulin aggravated…something, most likely his groin after he spent the majority of the second period sprawling all over the crease.

Both teams were on the defensive for most of the period but with about four minutes left in the period, it seemed like the Hawks looked at the scoreboard and realized it wasn’t, in fact, the end of the world.  From there, Kane-Toews-Byfuglien put together the most sustained pressure of the period.  Every shift after that, the Hawks had a solid chance to end it in regulation. 

It never happened.

In overtime, the Hawks continued the pressure from the previous period.  The Wings were forced into a couple of icings and after Matt Walker decided it was a good time to be Bobby Orr, the Hawks made this a series again.

Leftover Thoughts from Game 3

–The majority of the next 36 hours will be dedicated to deciding if Kronwall’s hit on Havlat was dirty.  The Hawks obviously feel it was; Detroit disagrees.  Kronwall certainly didn’t let up on the hit and the puck was never on Havlat’s stick.  Kronwall also led with his forearm to Havlat’s jaw.  With that being said, Havlat got caught with his head down in no-man’s land. 

Was it a cheap shot?  With my rose-colored Hawks glasses on, yes.  As an objective observer, no.  But I thought the referees absolutely made the right call by giving him the game misconduct.  If they don’t give him the boot at that point, there’s a very good chance this game turns into World War III.  Ben Eager would have probably finished the game wearing Kronwall on his helmet.

–Nikolai Khabibulin has already been ruled out for Game 4, according to Comcast SportsNet’s Josh Mora, so the once forgotten Cristobal Huet is back.  Before everybody bemoans this turn of events, let’s look at the facts.

Khabibulin has had two “playoff game stealing” performances: Game 1 and 6 against Calgary.  In every other game, he has been perfectly average.  The guy with the 92% save percentage of the regular season is gone.  So far in the playoffs, his percentage is a mediocre 88%.

It speaks volumes for how far this team has gotten without the superb goaltending we all thought they’d need to advance. 

That all being said, this has been a wacky year for the Hawks and their goalies.  Every time it seemed the most desolate, that’s when their goalies came up with a game-changing performance.  So don’t bust out the razor blades just yet.

–I guess it would be silly of me not to acknowledge Matt Walker for his end of game theatrics.  I’ve been one of his harsher critics this year, but that was a great play he made in overtime to keep the play alive.  Not only that, but he led the team with 4 shots on net and made the recognition that the winger covering him had no stick, so he had a wide open lane to get his shot through.  Big ups to Big Country.  Now, please don’t think that means you’re Brian Campbell.

–Was the camera operator for Versus tonight a drunk freshman from Columbia College?  All night, viewers had no idea where the puck was thanks to the inability of cameraman to find the play.  It certainly didn’t help that the only proof we had Patrick Sharp’s game winner went in the net was because of Sharp’s reaction.

What in the….

Who said anything about us being intelligent?  They’re obviously talking about someone else.