Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz takes in the national anthem before Game 6 Monday.
Rocky Wirtz is feeling conflicted: Rocky the hockey fan loves the thought of a marquee matchup against the arch-rival Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals. Rocky the businessman loves the thought of playing the Anaheim Ducks, for one simple reason: "Home-ice advantage," the Blackhawks chairman said with a smile, relishing the thought of four home games against the upstart Ducks.
I pondered Wirtz's assessment while standing a few feet away, watching him shake hands with a wave of well-wishers during the the final minutes of the Hawks' 7-5 series-clinching win over Vancouver. Rocky rejects the private box favored by most team owners, preferring to sit in the main level where he can experience games like fans do. As the clock wound down Monday in a delirious United Center, I asked him about a potential pairing against Detroit. He acknowledged that it would be a memorable series (while making a crack about having to first find the games on the Versus channel), but from a practical standpoint, he'd prefer Anaheim.
Yes, it's hard to argue that the Hawks would benefit from home ice and be favored to beat the eighth-seeded Ducks. It's a much better assignment than having to go up against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
But, come on now: Is there anyone out there who doesn't drool at the thought of a Hawks-Wings showdown? If you thought the Winter Classic was a big deal, brace yourself for a best-of-seven slugfest against the team Hawks fans love to hate. The Stanley Cup Finals would almost seem anticlimactic.
Fans are starting to liken this young Hawks team to the Michael Jordan-led Bulls who first had to dethrone the Detroit Pistons before they could embark on their championship run. It didn't happen overnight: In the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Bulls came up empty against the Pistons in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. It wasn't until the following spring that the Bulls finally were able to overcome their longtime nemesis, sweeping Isiah Thomas & Co. in four sweet games.
So how about it, Hawks fans: Is this team growing up fast enough that it could knock off the Wings in the conference finals, or would you prefer to see the Ducks do the dirty work by somehow overcoming their 3-2 series deficit and ousting Detroit? True, your team won its final two games against the Wings at season's end, but those games meant nothing. When the national spotlight was shining during the Winter Classic on New Year's Day, it was Detroit that delivered with a convincing 6-4 victory.
From this perspective, nothing less than a Hawks-Red Wings rematch will suffice. What do you say?
Bubba's Mom doesn't care who the opponent is. You can bet that a Hawk/Wings series will bring some Detroit fans to the UC - they always manage to squeeze themselves into our house.
But I like the idea of playing the Mighty Ducks. Good as they are right now, I think they'd quack (sorry) under pressure from our offense.
Congratulations, Hawks fans !
Patrick Kane said it quite eloquently last night right after the game..."what could be more exciting than a Hawks/Wings play-off?" The obviuos answer to that is the Hawks hoisting the Stanely Cup and skating it around the UC.
Would the cup mean any less if the Ducks knocked off the Wings first? I seriously doubt it but Beating the Wings requires once again gaining home ice by way of a road win. What could be sweeter than dethroning the Wings on their ice? OH yea...bringing the Stanely Cup back to Chicago!
Bring on whomever, this hawks team is ready to rrrrrrrrrrrummmmble!
GO HAWKS!!!!
Be careful what you wish for.
He also loves the idea of having a chance against the Ducks because it is NO CHANCE against the mighty Red Wings! GO WINGS!!!
Love,
Hockeytown
I am a long time wing fan. I think a CHICAGO DETROIT final
would be fantastic. It is great to see the hawks back love those
white jerseys but my loyalty will always be with the wings
Bubba's Mom, I am dying laughing! I love puns, especially the corny ones! The Hawks should take the road that leads to the STANLEY CUP! And that means DUCKS! Skip the ratings and the Wings rivalry. We can get them next season as CHAMPS. And that is not to say I am affraid for the Hawks, but why let Detroit beat up on us and possibly injure someone key. I don't think the Hawks are affraid of anyone at this point because they are too good to be. The Ducks are the SMART route.
It was wonderful to see the Bulls mature and finally defeat the Pistons, but the Pistons delayed us and I believe took 3 championships from the Bulls. I hope the Hawks crush the Ducks into a nice foie gras to go along with their championship champagne! Somebody call the Mayor...Duck in on the menu in Chicago!
Dee-troit Sucks not Anaheim Ducks.
Go Hawks!
Wow, that was one of the best hockey games I have seen and all my props to the kids and the Blackhawks team for proving me wrong also. I picked the Canuckleheads in 7, but the kids (Toews, Kane, Versteeg) stepped up their games a lot quicker than I would have ever thought. Great stuff. Bring on whoever, the Wings or the Ducks, it doesn't matter! They now have a serious shot at winning it all against anyone. Go Blackhawks!!
A sports fans who is Hockey Challenged simply saying Good Luck to the Hawks and Congrats to Hawks fans.
Part of this had been posted on the other thread with some clarifications:
I just saw the greatest hockey game that I have ever witnessed in terms of excitement, importance, and lost days of life due to stress (and therefore extreme feelings of relief).
I just saw the greatest single performance--by Patrick Kane--on three goals in a series winning effort that I have ever witnessed.
I am now confident that Patrick Kane will be a superstar. While all of his "Hat Trick" goals were great, the seventh, and in a game like this, in mind, the "game winner," was just absolutely sick. It was one for the ages. Not only was it the skating and the stick handling, he backhanded it in just the most perfect shot in the opposite, upper corner with juice. A classic roof shot that few people can do. Just sick! He had undressed a top defenseman in Mattias Ohlund earlier on his first goal. Willie "The Mouth" Mitchell, 'Nucklehead D-man said that Pat Kane couldn't play 5 on 5. Hah, he scored all three 5 on 5! Put that in your golf bag tomorrow!
I had picked the Chicago Blackhawks to be taken in 7 against Vancouver, but only because they matched up poorly against them, home ice disadvantage, and Luongo. I am here to tell everyone that this team can, YES, CAN beat anyone left in the playoffs, including the Detroit Red Wings!
It has been said the your greatest stars need to be your greatest players in the greatest games. Well, Patrick Kane were Stars #1 and #2 in this penultimate contest. Detroit, Quackers, whomever, bring it on!
Still, having said all that, the unlikelihood of facing Anaheim would be the better option since we would certainly beat them. However, we can beat Detroit and doing so would be oh, so much sweeter!
I am a believer in these Chicago Blackhawks THIS YEAR!!!!!!
Let's all get on board. THEY'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES FOLKS!!
By the way, if you haven't heard the call on radio by John Weidemann and Troy Murray on Patrick Kane's "Hat Trick" goal, the one that essentially gave the Hawks the game, it is one for the ages. You have to give it a listen. You would think that any more excitement would necessitate either cardiac resuscitation or immediate enrollment in the local insane asylum.
To coin the popular phrase and inflections from ESPN's Chris Berman:
"They...could...go...all...the...way!!!!"
Go Blackhawks!
By the way, how many times have the Blackhawks come from behind in this series? Just unheard of in playoff hockey, especially against Luongo and the 'Nucks.
If someone wanted to know who scored the most pivotal goal in this series, go no further than Marty Havlat's game tying effort in Game 4 that was then won in OT by Andrew Ladd. Prior to that tying goal, the Hawks chatroom, collectively, had all but given up on the series, conceding to the frustrating defensive ways and means of the Vancouver Canucks at that time.
Wow, these guys figured them out. We found that we can now play any style, any place, any time. They are a quick study. They are a tremendous hockey team.
Right now, the Chicago Blackhawks can beat the Detroit Red Wings, perhaps the only team as deep or deeper line for line than the Hawks.
If we had home ice, I would confidently predict a series win. As it sstands now, I'd say we'd have just less than a 50-50% shot. The Wings also have the worst goaltender of any contending team in Chris Osgood.
Hawks recipe for success against anyone:
1. Stay out of the penalty box.
2. Don't lose focus after you take the lead.
3. Take the lead and keep it!
You want to know what's great? They often failed at all three against Vancouver and still won!
Looks like it really doesn't matter. Kane is more than able!
Go Hawks!!!
Anthony ... was that a biblical play on words?
I would LOVE to see Hawks-Wings in the finals! After witnessing the Winter Classic sitting out there in the bitter cold, the rivalry between these two teams is heated. It would be a great series!
Hawks / Wings all the way!
That's the kind of trial by fire that will test these young men to their limits.
Win or lose, it's an experience that will toughen them up, and steel them for future combat against the best of the NHL.
Go Hawks!