How Many Times Can I Break 'Til I Shatter? Hawks Fall to Bruins 3-0
That post title (and I apologize here for an O.A.R. lyric) works in two ways. Firstly, how many times will the Hawks claw their way to a strong standing in the playoffs, with some comfort, only to shortly thereafter find themselves fighting for their playoff lives? Second, Corey Crawford battled extremely hard all night to keep the Hawks in this game, but he finally broke after constant pressure all night from the Bruins, eventually falling 3-0.
Anyways, let’s get to it.
The first period consisted of no scoring, but didn’t lack for action. The Bruins outshot the Hawks 12-5 and the eye test certainly showed them earning those extra chances. The B’s were winning board battles and the Hawks were having trouble clearing their defensive zone, not a good combination. Thankfully, Corey Crawford was up to the task, making several big time saves to keep the score knotted at zero entering the second.
The pace of the game notably changed about four minutes into the second. Noted dickwad and frequently quoted on his own Tumblr page Shawn Thornton went down behind the Chicago net and a Chicago player’s skate came up and gashed his forehead. As Thornton was helped off the ice by an official, someone on the Hawks’ bench (I heard Kane?) chirped at Thornton as he skated by. Now, even to a guy like Shawn Thornton, you don’t chirp in that situation. The guy is hurt, you want to chirp, chirp later. That was gutless, classless and full of cowardice. Thornton forgot about his injury and nearly got into it at the Chicago bench. From there on out, the fires of hell were burning in the Bruins’ play. That one bonehead move instantaneously swung the emotion and momentum into Boston’s hands.
Twelve minutes into the second, the scoreless tie was finally broke when the B’s won an offensive zone draw, eventually moving the puck out to Zdeno Chara who threw a wrister from the blueline in that deflected off of Brian Campbell and behind Corey Crawford. The B’s take a 1-0 lead.
Just a few minutes later, the B’s would get a second tally. Johnny Boychuk threw another blueline wrister at Crawford which dipped hard as it came in and just got past Crawford. The Versus announcers said that it dipped “at least a foot,” but I don’t care of that’s a Tim Wakefield knuckleball, Crawford HAS to have that one. B’s 2-0.
The second period would end with the Bruins still up 2-0. The Hawks were again outshot that period, this time by an 18-12 margin. Again, once the Shawn Thornton incident happened, the B’s just seemed to get angry and got even with a pair of goals.
The third period didn’t have much going on. The Hawks tried hard at the start to get themselves back into it but every opportunity was drove away either by the B’s stout defense or Timmy Thomas. After about five and half minutes of this, Nathan Horton would finish the game off with a nice patient move on Crawford to make it 3-0 Bruins, which would be your final.
Random Observations:
- Tim Thomas with 9 shutouts now on the season. Give the man the Vezina already.
- Corey Crawford was INCREDIBLE the first 30 minutes of the game and even made some ridiculous save after the two second period goals.
- Note to the rest of the Eastern Conference: Don’t piss off the Bruins. They play pretty well when they’re pissed.
- Boston’s organist gets MAJOR props for playing an organ version of MGMT’s “Kids.” Amazing.
- The Hawks just didn’t seem to have a full tank of gas tonight. I guess that’s what happens when you play an emotional game the night before with a lot of players skating well north of 20 minutes.
Three Stars:
- Corey Crawford: If it wasn’t for Crawford, this game could’ve been really ugly. And it was pretty ugly already.
- The Bruins team defense: Pretty much every chance was from the outside or from above the circles on Thomas. Granted, we had some in close chances, but they kept them limited.
- Brent Seabrook: Only because I can’t think of anyone else that had any sort of positive impact.
Up Next: A Friday night tilt against the Blue Jackets in Columbus that we damned well better win.
Easily the best non-Crawford play of the night.
This gave me a mini-heart attack.
Congrats. Seriously.
