Hawks players raise their sticks after rallying for a 6-5 overtime win Monday.
This was supposed to be a blog post about Chris Chelios and his inspirational comeback attempt with the AHL's Wolves. It was pretty much written and ready to go. But, we interrupt that moving tribute to the indomitable spirit of the 47-year-old future Hall of Famer to bring you this late-breaking news flash:
HAWKS WIN! HAWKS WIN!! HAWKS WIN!!!
On an amazing, history-making night at the United Center, the Hawks found themselves buried before many in the crowd had even settled into their seats, trailing Calgary 5-0 at the 11:53 mark of the first period Monday. Cristobal Huet had been yanked after allowing the first three goals, but things didn't seem any better after Antti Niemi gave up two more quick tallies. The Flames' five goals came on only six shots and within a span of 5:29.
Game over, right? Never in the Hawks' long history had they rallied from anything worse than a four-goal deficit. But then, just like that, the game turned completely around, and when it was over, you walked away convinced that this team just might live up to its massive hype.
John Madden first got the Hawks on the board with a goal late in the first period. In the second period, goals by Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Dave Bolland made it 5-4. Suddenly, every loose puck was being snatched up by the Hawks and they were dominating play. Early in the final frame, Patrick Sharp tied the score at 5-5, and when Brent Seabrook provided the winner in stunning fashion just 26 seconds into overtime, the UC went up for grabs! Cue the horn, blare "Chelsea Dagger" and raise your sticks in a center-ice celebration: Hawks win!
''A pretty amazing game," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters afterward. "From the worst to as good as you can get."
How good? Well, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Hawks became only the second NHL team ever to fall behind 5-0 in the first period and rally to win (the other team was these same Flames in 1987). Nice to know that this Hawks team is never out of a game. It's the kind of never-say-die attitude that wins Stanley Cups.
Of course, the troubling aspect of the exhilerating evening was the poor play of Huet, who is supposed to plug the hole in goal created by the departure of Nikolai Khabibulin (who will come calling Wednesday night with the Edmonton Oilers). Quenneville was quick to point out that the entire team was at fault ("We weren't very good in front of him") before acknowledging the obvious: "We know our goaltending has got to be better."
So what's your take on the Hawks so far, based not only on Monday's thriller but also the two games last week and the Finland excursion? Concerns about the goaltending and the defense, for sure, but that offense -- led by a resurgent Kane -- looks like something special.
Now, what was it I was about to say about Chris Chelios?!?
Good for the Hawks! That is the stuff of Champions. A Champion finds another WAY to beat you when what normaly works isn't working that night. And and Champion has that kind of pride to dig deep and come back. Yes, its defense that wins championships, but its also gutsy and exceptional offense - especially down the stretch that breaks an opponents will and seals the victory. And when its at home, it builds confidence in young players and gives the fans the treat they so richly deserves. That is just fantastic.
Maaaaaan I saw Chris Chelios doing an interview at practice on Comcast! He was breathing like he was going to keel over any second. And then they flashed on the screen that dude is 47 years old! Come ON MAN - 47! I guess he said if Brett can do it, so will I. I am rooting for him and the Wolves because the Wolves are a consistently good team in Chicago. I remember nights watching the news and hearing the Hawks lost, but the Wolves won. I bet he has to soak in a tub of ice and Ben Gay.
yeah....ummmmmm....good teams don't fall behind 5-0 in the first place. I am very discouraged at the inconsistent play this year.
Huet is a good goalie, but the defense is what is so bad at times.
I am not fooled by this cheap win. This is a team that is capable
of losing after going up 5-0 as well.
How did Chelios become a geezer over night?? HE was being praised
for his workouts less than 8 months ago. I think age really is a matter of what other people think. He is no better than the the
traders(McMahon, McMichael, McRivera) who went to the Packers, and should be ignored by Chicago forever. F&CK him and his chilli.
When the Hawks skate, they are virtually unstoppable from the defensemen to the forwards. No team has such depth skating-wise. No team has defensemen who can skate circles around most other team's forwards like the Blackhawks. The problem is when they choose not to skate or maybe have a heavy-legged day after affair while the opponent is fresh. Then, they become vulnerable. Good thing the playoffs are always fair when it comes to freshness for either team.
We are questionable in goal. Huet has been a #1 in the past with other teams, but I haven't seen the kind of consistency that would give me high confidence. Granted, those early goals were also products of a defense that just didn't show up, but we still need more. The good news is that so-so goalies have won Cups. I can think Gerry Cheevers on the very early seventies Bobby Orr Boston Bruins. Grant Fuhr was better, but hardly Hall of Fame material. The eighties' Edmonton Oilers were just magicians in front of him. Nevertheless, I want to see more from Huet. The good news is that Niemi appears to be a capable backup, maybe even good enough to spell Huet for a decent amount of time.
Now, to the offense. The defense--when it shows up--drives the offense by getting the puck out quickly. They just keep coming! It's like wave after wave of offense churned by the active D-men. Their best defense is having the puck in the offensive zone. For one thing, no opponent can score from there. For another thing, if we could see the opponents' goalies' eyes, we'd probably see "deer in headlights."
This John Madden? BOOM!!! This isn't just some leader-type, slow, plodding, grinder...although grind and lead he does. He's ultra- competitive. He's physical. He's got good speed. He keeps up with the waves! Patrick Kane is perhaps trying to show the world that his summer faux pas is totally a stain that will go away after he brings us to the promised land. Oh, by the way, Marian Hossa isn't even playing!
Keith, there is NOTHING WRONG, I repeat NOTHING WRONG with being 47 and attempting to play hockey. Chelios has a few screws loose, but most hockey players do - it's a sport for the partially insane. I wish I could still play.
Hawks have a long season ahead of them, and I question Huet's durability in the stretch, but I like what I see. I think everyone in Chicago who cares about hockey likes what they see. I want to see if/ how teams try to work around Kane as the season progresses. So far, he's on fire.
Stuck snapped! I am dying! You better watch it, folks don't like it when you go after a guy around here. Stuck I heard him interview during the Hawks run last year and he did nothing but spoke well of the Hawks. He was on ESPN wishing them well and he walked all over the line that divided the Hawks and Redwings. I thought when he showed up in a Wolves uniform that was a way of him returning in a sense. I don't know the story behind his leaving, but come on man, most folks are shown the door in Chicago. Hey Stu or Gig - enlighten me on the Chili Departure Saga.
Giggity-Giggity, Grant Fuhr......hardly HoF material? Are you saying that because
he was black? Or because the Hawks could never beat him? I smell
bitter envy either way.
BTW 11/02/03..HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN INDUCTED INTO THE
HALL OF FAME.
The hawks goalies seem to have HOF carreers AFTER their career
with the blackhawks.....maybe it's not the goalies that are so-so.
Maybe it was the players. Giggity.
Good stuff, Gig. I agree with you, especially on the goalie situation. That is going to be a big concern all season long with Huet who is so inconsistent. He can look like a world beater one day and then look terrible in the next 2 games or whatever. Niemi and Crawford should be ok backing up, although I didn't like that goal Niemi gave up right when he entered the game. That was pretty bad, but at least he settled down and shut them out the rest of the game to pave the way for the awesome comeback. I like Madden so far and I can't wait to see Hossa in action when he returns. As for Patrick Kane... so far, so good and yes, he's playing like a superstar like he should be. Go Hawks, go Bulls and go Bears!
Chelios is a punk....
Stuck, I resent your implication that because Grant Fuhr is black I wouldn't put him in the Hall of Fame. That's unfair and preposterous! No, there also isn't any bitter envy as the Oilers were hard to despise. How could you hate Gretzky? There were many hockey experts during the eighties who agreed that Grant Fuhr was solid, but nothing special. Contrary to popular belief, guys do get lucky simply being on certain teams.
I think it would be absolutely fantastic to have more African-Americans playing hockey and that would more likely occur if there were a few of that race in the Hall. Last I checked, there's only around thirty black NHL players currently. The Hawks have just one, Dustin Byfuglien who is very talented and quite a presence. I wouldn't mind one bit if he were to get so good that we could speak of him in greatness terms.
Stuck, I want to make it clear that I'm aware that Grant Fuhr's in the Hall of Fame and that fact is pretty hard to argue against even though I still maintain, along with many hockey experts, that he was fortunate to be an Edmonton Oiler. That's the breaks. I recall some Hall-of-Fame discussions about Cheevers as well, but Boston had won only two Cups with him in goal and he was clearly more of an irritant and stopper of a few shots per game than a very solid netminder like Fuhr. I do not want Grant Fuhr's name out of the Hall of Fame by the way. Keep him in there, but I'm just sayin'...
yeah.. I ran around around my coffee table in justjustjust only my Eruzione jersey.....I wish Kurt Russel coulda seen me...and I didn't break my hip when I fell ovah...need I say it...mira...
how many yards does Michael Turner get, tho?
would you care to list and quote these so called 'hockey experts'?
Grant Fuhr deserves to be there, and is considered by many hockey experts....including the greatest of all..aka..'the great one' as
the greatest goalie ever.
I thought for sure this would get Chuck steaming......(where
r u chuck?) But I guess black people don't even read hockey topics(c'mon Chuck that one has to wake you up.)
Resentment is so cute......so what is it then that is keeping
you from acknowledging Grant Fuhr as more than 'capable'.....is it
the mustache? Can we at least both agree he was better than Bannnnnnnnnnerman(
great to have foley back.)!
Stuck, I'm going to let you win this argument about Grant Fuhr. I know I should bring the experts' names up as you suggested especially when I called you on something similar. I'm swamped and don't have the time. This one's yours.
Take care...
Chelios drops his gloves and gets charged with assault on a minor??....all beatin up old girlfriends' kids....
the best I can do on short notice..
I always thought Chelios was close to legend status here in Chicago no matter who he played for...personally, I'd like to get him on a talk show and ask him questions about the Blackhawks like Farley asked them on "The Chris Farley Show"...
What kind of "girlie men" are the Hawks for not putting Huet between the pipes tonight?
That is simply gutless if you ask me. (and nobody did)
If they're afraid that the guy they kept is going to lose to the guy they showed the door, then they might as well come right out and say that they kept the wrong one.
Gutless, and not worth watching.