Tuesday Morning Coffee- A seed

That swagger, talked about so much leading up to and during this series has been diminished somewhat.  The Canucks planted the seed of doubt in the heads of the Blackhawks Sunday night, and with the pressure squarely on them again, they appear a bit rattled not just that they couldn't close the deal: more so that we didn't let them.  Sure they're trying to keep the mind games going.  The packing for San Jose stuff?  If it's such a non-story why did they make sure everyone knew?  That was put out to try and tell the Canucks they think it's a foregone conclusion.  There's only one Stanley in our heads, and it ain't Bowman.

I guess the game plan is simple, just take the things that worked Sunday and do them again.  Yes Chicago will be looking to crank things up, but as we've seen them do before, it inevitably leads to penalties.  Dustin Byfuglien will be trying to get to Luongo tonight.  Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be looking to swarm the net for chances.  Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg are going to continue to be douchebags.  Adam Burrish and Ben Eager are going to continue to be the embarrassing mouth breathers they are and try to hurt guys again.  Fuck them.

History will be made is the theme of this year's NHL marketing campaign.  Tonight we get to take a little history back from them.  This time, Game 6 is ours.  If you want the series, you have to take it when it's winner take all in Game 7, and not tonight.  Game 5 reminded us one thing: when we play our game... we can beat you.  We can take your stars and render them ineffective.  We can take your role players and expose their weaknesses.  We can take your goons and punish them where it counts: on the scoreboard.

Sami Salo is listed as day to day and what we're hearing is that Lawrence Nycholat will draw in tonight, meaning big minutes for Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff,  Alexander Edler and Shane O'Brien.  Either way, inspired by a ballsy gutsy team effort on Sunday, they will be ready to force this series to a 7th game tonight.  Their preparation heading into Game 5 was superb and you know the coaching staff will have them ready again tonight.

No, you'll not be going to San Jose.  We have unfinished business, and tonight is just us booking our travel plans back to Chicago for Game 7.  It doesn't matter that Salo went down, this team shall prevail.  The Canucklehead Army is rising, the nay sayers and shit talkers shall be put in their place.  We will rise, and take what is ours.  Not this year.  Not this time.  See you back in Chicago.

Habs do it again, Flyers get a costly one

Absolutely no quit in those Montreal Canadiens, eh?  Injuries and all they continue to make every team earn the victories and have now forced the Pittsburgh Penguins into a 1 game show down to advance to the Conference Final.  Going into game 6 everyone had written them off again.  Now, I wonder if the Penguins are going to be able to overcome this.  Sure this team has lots of experience in high pressure games, but they blew it last night.  And now they return to Pittsburgh, where a hot goalie and a team that's allowed just 1 goal from Sidney Crosby is looking to send the defending Cup Champions packing.

A gritty but costly win for the Flyers yesterday, as Brian Boucher sprained the MCL's in both knees in the second period of game 5 against the Bruins last  night.  Micheal Leighton came in and preserved the shutout for the Flyers who now head back to Philly tomorrow for game 6.  The Bruins just came out flat last night, showing no desire to be able to put the Flyers away, and will now have to try and do it in front of what should be a crazy crowd in Philadelphia.  Tazers for everyone, yay!

Team Canada went to 2-0 at the World Championships in Germany yesterday.  Playing against a gritty Latvian team that plays a smothering defensive style 5 on 5, the Canadians took advantage of the power play, scoring 4 times with the man advantage en route to a 6-1 victory.  John Tavares and Mark Giordano each scored twice for Canada, who also got goals from Tampa Bay teammates Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie.  Ryan Smith is done for the tournament with a fractured ankle, a big loss for the Canadian team as they will miss his veteran leadership and net presence.  Next up for Canada is the Swiss on Wednesday.