Hawks-Flames Game 4 Preview
This is the time of the year where you’ll hear every game called “pivotal” and “all-important” in playoff series. It’s not that they’re wrong, it’s just that we know they’re important. It’s the playoffs! So the Blackhawks will be in Calgary again tonight for a regularly-vastly-important Game 4. Bullets!
- Patrick Kane says he’s ready to go for tonight. That’s obviously great news for the Hawks’ offense. About a period into Game 2, I was already preparing my thoughts for a post ripping on Kane and his underachievement in the series, then he goes ahead and whips a beautiful assist for the game-tying goal. The fact is that no matter how well Kane is playing, you need him on the ice in the playoffs because he is a playmaker.
- One place Kane can provide some assistance is on the power play, where the Hawks are 2 for their last 14. This was one of the big concerns at the start of the season, but it came around. Still, in the playoffs where things really tighten up defensively, you can’t afford to shoot blanks on the power play. Just ask St. Louis.
- I hate to judge just on one road game, but about halfway through Game 3 I thought that this series might be heading to seven games. Despite their two collapses in Chicago, I thought Calgary carried the play a lot of the time in the first two games and it happened more in Game 3. I’m not saying Chicago can’t steal one on the road, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see this one go the distance.
- If they’re going to steal a game though, it will likely be Nikolai Khabibulin that’s responsible. He has been outstanding in this series and played well in Game 3, where one of the goals was very flukey. Of course that didn’t stop the “Huet is ready” stories in the Trib and Sun-Times. Unless they’re predicting injury they can shut up.
- Two players I have really enjoyed watching in this series are Dave Bolland and Brent Seabrook. I’m pretty sure their combined age is less than Chris Chelios, but they look like they’ve been doing this playoff thing for years. Bolland is playing with speed and Seabrook has been one of the most productively physical of the defensemen. ROY candidate Kris Versteeg has been good also.
Alright, that’s all I have for tonight’s game. Since the NBA schedules its games as if teams have to travel between countries, there is no Bulls-Hawks double dip tonight. Game 4 starts at 9PM CT on CSN and Versus, depending on where you live.
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