What a game, what a series. Hard, physical, exciting. So many moments in this series when the Hawks stood tall, looked defeated, and roared back. So many moments when young players came of age, shook off their playoff inexperience, and helped the team win.
My head was in the clouds for Game 1, just excited to see this team back in the playoffs. Exhausted at the tension until Havlat ended it in OT. Game 2 was even more memorable, having witnessed it firsthand. I was stunned when the Flames jumped out early, but catatonic as the Hawks rallied. I'll never forget the final two minutes, as the entire crowd stood as one and cheered the Hawks to the end. I've never heard a stadium so loud in my life.
Games 3 and 4 brought me back to Earth. The Hawks fought hard, made bad mistakes, and rallied. At times they looked lost, overwhelmed by the bigger Flames and their hostile crowd. But they fell short both times.
I was nervous for Game 5. Even though they were playing in front of their crowd, could they regain momentum? The series was now tied, and if the Hawks fell short, trying to fight off elimination in Calgary looked daunting. Could they step it up? The Hawks hit the gas from the opening puck drop and never looked back. They crashed the net, they hit the Flames all over the place. They struck early and often. The game was a blowout, and they answered all the questions. They responded.
Game 6. Back to hostile Calgary. The kids looked poised early on, making some great scoring chances. They seemed to have more energy, more bounce in their legs. They used the same formula from Game 5, striking early, and behind some good defense and great goaltending, headed into the 3rd with a 3-0 lead. The Flames checked out. They looked gassed. Their crowd was silent.
But the Flames struck early, sensing desperation. And for awhile, the Flames took control, creating scoring chances, hitting the Hawks harder and more often, and forcing Chicago into way too many icing infractions. But they slowly regained control, and finished them off.
So many things to be proud of, tonight, and in the series.
Khabby standing on his head, making terrific save after terrific save. He looked awesome in the first two games, mortal in the middle two, and was otherworldly in the last two. He stopped 43 of 44 shots in the clincher, singlehandedly carrying the team to the win.
The defense of Keith and Seabrook. They shut down the Flames' best scoring chances. They never panicked or looked lost. Each time a Flame player got close to the net, they locked in and removed the rebound. Calgary's game plan was to get shots on net and crash it for rebounds. Didn't happen with Keith and Seabrook back deep.
Kane and Toews showing discipline, skill, and courage in their first playoff series. The Flames tried to bully them, take them out of their game, and wear them down. But the kids played and fought hard, didn't bite when Calgary goaded them, and gained valuable experience.
Rookie Kris Versteeg leading the team in scoring.
Big Buf crashing the net and leading the series in hits.
Adam Burish giving the Flames fits with his physical play.
The Havlat-Bolland-Ladd line shutting down Calgary's best scorers.
And just when Calgary scored in Game 6, closing the score to 3-1, the Flames looked like they were about to make a run. Their energy picked up. Their crowd was back into it. They were getting good chances, and the Hawks looked like they were about to crack. But Sammy Pahlsson took control, and like a leader does, calmed the troops. Within minutes, the Hawks were back in control.
Vancouver looms next. A bigger, faster, and better team than Calgary. They mauled the Hawks in their last two meetings of the season. And the Hawks don't have home-ice this time. Frankly, they scare the everliving shit out of me.
But for now, it's nice to savor this.
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