All Playoffs and No Canucks Makes Zanstorm a.... Hawks Fan

by Sean Zandberg on May 17, 2009 1:37 AM PDT in NHL Playoffs Comment 20 comments

It was when I first saw Tony Esposito's ass-kicking mask (and at the time-his unique goaltending style) as a kid that I clued in to the Hawks. I collected Espo hockey cards, and now even have a framed picture of Tony on my living room wall (thanks Temujin). Denis Savard is one of my all-time faves as well.

I have no shame. I cannot hate the Hawks even though they put Vancouver out. Sure, I hate Ben Eager and Marty Havlat, but that will subside now as they are playing the damned Red Wings. I don't want to see Detroit in the Finals again.

The Leafs have not won the Cup since 1967. The Hawks have not won it since 1961. It's the longest drought running in the NHL. Who was the team they faced in the Finals back then? Gordie Howe and the Red Wings. They made it to the Finals 4 times from 1962 to 1973 and then never made it that far again until 1992, where they lost in 4 straight to the douchebag diving Penguins. I admired so many of the Hawks on that team: Captain Dirk Graham, Steve Larmer, Ed Belfour, Chris Chelios, (no, not Jeremy Roenick), Steve Smith, Bryan Marchment, Murray Craven, Noonan and Matteau, and Brent Sutter. The Hawks swept the Wings earlier in that '92 playoff run. Here is some video footage of the end of Game 4 of that series.

The best game I have ever seen was Game 4 of that Hawks-Pens Final. A hat trick for Dirk Graham, Belfour pulled, and seemingly the coming out party of Dominic Hasek, who stopped 3 Mario Lemieux breakaways in that game. The Hawks lost 6-5. I see someone has put that whole game up on YouTube in about 23 segments. Nice. I still have it on VHS. I've watched it over 10 times.

The last time the Hawks played the Wings in the playoffs was in the 1995 Western Conference Final. Detroit won that series and then got smoked by Neal Broten and the Devils in the Finals.

I see many of the pundits (including a Chicago Tribune writer) are predicting the Wings to win this series, and many are still saying that the Hawks are young and Detroit has the experience. Are they watching the same playoffs as me? So far that argument against the Hawks has been brought before each of their first 2 series'. It is not an issue. These guys are not in this just to gain experience. They believe that they can win it now. I believe it was TSN's Bob McKenzie that said that the Wings will win because they can beat you any way they want to: wide open or tight defence. Well, so can the Hawks.

Chicago has a great blend of youth, speed, skill and physicality. I don't think Detroit is going to be able to keep up. This will be Detroit's toughest challenge in these playoffs by far.

I got the Hawks taking it in 6.

Die Wings die!

GAME TIME: 12:00 PST

TV: TSN

RIVAL BLOGS: Second City Hockey and Winging It In Motown

Here is a clip of the Hawks' 1961 Stanley Cup win:

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Comments

The only way I’ll cheer for the Hawks is if Patrick Kane is injured.

Bring me Stanley. Alive if possible, dead... just as good.

by King Luongshanks on May 17, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

Okay, that was a bit harsh. I’ll change that statement to ‘I can’t in good conscience cheer for the Hawks while they have Kane in their lineup’.

Bring me Stanley. Alive if possible, dead... just as good.

by King Luongshanks on May 17, 2009 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions

I don’t really get the hatred some people have for Kane… care to explain it?

Second City Hockey

by Matthew Dirt on May 18, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I’ll bet it’s because he scored so many damned goals against the Canucks in round 2.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on May 18, 2009 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Its not hate, its just a lack of respect for him. He ran up some impressive totals Vs the Nucks, but a good rap on him early and he probably disappears for the series. I suspect that he won’t be such a factor agains the Wings. Vancouver didnt focus on him, and it cost them the series. I’m sure Detroit won’t make that mistake, and by focusin a little bit on him will render him useless.
Bottom line is, I hate gettin beat by soft players. Toews, Burrish, Ladd etc… are all players I can cheer for. Kane though belongs in the Nylander tree.

by Nuckels on May 18, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Zing!

Well after Game 1 against the Wings it almost appeared that maybe Mitchell was on to something…

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on May 18, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Detroit got actual Cup winning experience as a team, as opposed to a couple of guys who’ve hoisted the grail. They also have more talent than the Flames or the Canucks.

Yeah, Chicago will be a better challenge than the Wings have faced so far, but so too will the Wings be a far better team than what Chicago beat in rounds 1 and 2. Thinking Wings in 6, but since “ahtrap” isn’t an alias for “supreme ruler of the universe”, time to strap myself in and watch the series….and hope I’m right….

by ahtrap on May 17, 2009 10:21 AM PDT reply actions

This game is insane. 1-1 in the middle of the 2nd, but the Wings have taken over.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on May 17, 2009 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

M'eh

I’ve rediscovered my love for the Blue Jays. Screw the NHL :-)

I am a Free Canadian
Real Eyes Realize Real Lies

by Temujin on May 17, 2009 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

Baseball fucking licks it, buddy.
Wings take Game 1. The Wings owned them.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on May 17, 2009 2:45 PM PDT reply actions

I like baseball. Easy sport to watch an inning or two and then switch. Its my summer watchin sport and golfin is the active one.

As for the Hawks/Wings. I went into the game today with no idea who I was cheerin for, it was quickly decided within a few mins of gametime. I’m going for Detroit all the way, I don’t mind the Hawks, but I don’t like Kane. He’s a whiny little bugger with a helmet to big for his body. He bugs me, and the defenceman part of me wants to see someone take his head off on one of his dipsydoodles at the blue. It will happen, and i’m holdin out on Kronwall catchin him with his head down and his mouthguard hangin :)

As for the other series, Pittsburgh is my choice. I don’t mind the Canes though and they really deserve more respect than they are given.

by Nuckels on May 17, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions