Holee-SHIT.
If Game 3 was frustrating, Game 4 was stroke inducing. Tonight the Lightning seemed a step faster, to pass better, and to be right on top of every Hawk that had the puck. And they lost. So, the teams go back to Tampa tied, and play a 3 game series for the Stanley Cup.
THE GOOD:
Corey Crawford – Crow stopped 24 shots tonight, and it seemed like 21 of those came in the final 2 minutes. I am sweaty.
Jonathan Toews – Toews was on a mission tonight. He was all over ice, playing his usual great two-way game and scoring the Hawks 1st goal.
THE BAD:
Power Play – the Hawks were 0 for 3 tonight, and they seemed to be trying too hard to find that perfect shot. The problem is, the Bolts started a rookie goaltender in place of the injured Ben Bishop, so ANY shot generated at that point would have been a good one. Both Hawks goals came off rebound scrums in front of the net, not on pretty passing plays.
Breakouts – the Hawks were determined to throw the puck up the boards when attempting to exit their own zone, and Tampa was all over them. Part of the discombobulation might be chalked up to their coach’s head scratching lines, but still, if the Hawks want to get decent zone exits, they’re going to need to start looking to the middle.
THE UGLY:
The lines…THE LINES. I’m not sure if Joel Quenneville is insane or if he just hates us, but whatever that was tonight, let us never see it again. Q nearly succeeded in outcoaching himself by completely juggling his lines, including neutralizing Andrew Shaw by putting him back at center (despite the fact that he’s been playing some of the best hockey of his career this series ON THE WING). All of this seemed to be nothing more than change for change sake. By the end of the game, order seemed to have been restored, but Jesus Christ, Q.
HOTTEST TAKE:
do people really doubt the hawks ever? they won a cup with handzus for christ’s sake
— SC (@stace_ofbase) June 11, 2015
Up Next: Two days off! Plenty of time for you to BUY A SHIRT!
