| Magic still there for the 'Hawks |
| Written by Kevin Massoth, Vidette Blogger |
| Tuesday, 26 April 2011 08:45 |
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It was less than a year ago when their team ran the table in the playoffs to bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago for the first time since 1961. But after an offseason of watching fan-favorite players leave town and barely sneaking into the 2011 playoffs, Hawks fans were left shaking their heads. It only got worse when Chicago’s team found themselves down three games to none in the first round to Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks (yes those same Canucks the Hawks knocked out of the playoffs the previous two years). But just when we all gave up on these kids (SportsCenter anchor Steve Levy even said they were done after falling in the third game) they found a way to put hockey back on our minds once again. With two convincing wins in Game 4 (7-2) and Game 5 (5-0) and a statement maker in Game 6 (4-3 OT), the Blackhawks head to Vancouver on Tuesday for a chance to come back from a 3-0 deficit and steal yet another playoff series from the Canucks. If the Hawks take Game 7 it would make them only the fourth ever team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NHL playoffs. The Hawks were reenergized by Dave Bolland in Game 4 after the center sat out 17 games due to concussion. Bolland scored a goal and assisted on three others to produce four points in the Blackhawks’ blowout win. Game 5 saw Marian Hossa get back into the picture by scoring his first two goals of the series, and Duncan Keith also scored twice and assisted on two goals. After a Ben Smith overtime winner in Game 6, the Hawks hold all the momentum, and maybe more importantly doubt has crept back into Luongo’s head. In a recent poll the Vancouver faithful showed they still want Luongo in the net for Game 7, but one truly has to wonder how much the veteran goaltender wants to be there against this hot Hawks team that has given him fits throughout the last three years. |