That's More Like It!

If you've gone to all three Hawks home playoff games this year, then you've gotten to see all three types of wins - the dramatic come from behind OT W, the nail-biting defense of a 1-goal lead, and the offensive explosion.

Yes my friends, hockey is most definitely back in Chitown.

I tore JQ a new one after the pitiful performance in the third period of Game 4, and rightfully so. After an amazing come back, he had his team playing completely passively and it cost them a chance to put the series away.

But JQ made up for it, to a large extent, with the way he had the team playing in Game 5. There was no question from the first whistle that this team was going to be aggressive. I'm not talking about working hard and delivering hits. They've been doing that all series. I'm talking about the strategy - pushing forward, pinching defensemen, bringing the game to the Flames rather than sitting back and letting them take it to us.

The results were beyond ridiculous - a 15-3 shot total in the first period. A 5-1 lead midway through the second. And then, when the Flames were given one last longshot, the Hawks surgically killed off a minute thirty of 5-on-3. The skaters were brilliant in all facets. After two poor outings from Khabi, the Hawks skaters took it upon themselves to win the game. They scored a ton, kept all the pressure on the other end, and didn't even allow Khabi to see much for shots. And when Khabi let in a total softy, the Hawks roared back with two goals to get him off the hook.

Their passing was beautiful, their skating sharp, their movements crisps, their positioning perfect, the teamwork ideal. Everything about the blueliners and forwards was just right.

I even found myself appreciating the work of Buff and Brouwer, my two favorite whipping boys.
It made me realize that in a lot of the series, they've actually held their own. It's a great example of how important it is to put guys in a position where they can succeed. Asked to skate with gifted offensive players most of the year, Buff looked bad twice for every time he did something good.

But in the playoffs he's been put on a defensive line with Pahlsson and Versteeg, and has thrived. He doesn't have to worry about capitalizing on scoring chances set up by Kane or Havlat or Toews. He just has to be physical and be a strong defensive forward, something his huge frame and history as a blueliner make him well-suited for. He's still overpaid and needs to go, but if that doesn't happen, at least we know how to utilize him now. I really wouldn't mind seeing Buff skate on some sort of pure checking line next year - I think it could allow him to be a valuable piece for the Hawks again.

Same story with Brouwer. I hated that he was playing up on the top scoring lines, bringing nothing to the table. Eventually he realized his role was to be a grinder, but he just hadn't developed the skills to do it right, at least not along the top scorers. But put back on the 4th line, he's been able to focus completely on grinding and his lack of offensive skills hasn't been an issue. Whether the line is better with Brouwer or Frasier isn't clear, but in either case, it's been a very productive line for what you'd want out of your energy guys.

Final thought before tonight's game - JQ has a chance to shine or shit the bed. If he has the Hawks playing aggressive like they were in Game 5, then this series will be over. But if he pulls back on the reigns in some misguided attempt to handle the pressure of being in front of the Flames crowd, then he's an idiot. And this goes for the whole game - one of the things I appreciated about Game 5 was that the Hawks continued to push forward hard even after they had established a nice lead. They never took their foots off the Flames' throats - never were content to sit back until the game was clearly out of reach.

The same thing has to happen tonight. The Hawks need to push those defensemen up and work everything hard and deep into the Flames zone. Do this and they'll get the lead - the Flames just can't handle the Hawks pressure. And once they have that lead - KEEP IT UP! JQ better have them forcing the issue the whole time.

I don't want to see them go into a "playing not to lose" formation early in the third period of a close game, or even in the second if they've got a solid lead. The Flames are too good, especially at home with their season on the line, to hope you can weather their offensive storm. That's playing to their strengths. Instead, force the Flames to worry about how their gonna keep the Hawks out of the net, and then they'll be too bogged down to mount any sort of comeback. Until we reach the final few minutes, when it'll be clear the Flames are throwing everything at you and you have to just batten down the hatches, I want the Hawks skaters taking it to them.

If they do that, I think we can see a repeat of Game 5. Might not be as obviously dominating, but I think the Hawks can get an early lead, continue the pressure to grow that lead, and then finally take advantage of how aggressive the Flames will have to be and blow it wide open.

But if the Hawks aren't aggressive, I fear the Flames will ride the home crowd and backs-against-the-wall attitude to force a Game 7. I've got a busy week already - I don't want a Game 7.