The lessons to be learned from last night are obvious.  First, the Hawks are the best team in the West, maybe in the NHL.  Second, Buffy still has it.  After a great spring playoff run, he seems to have forgotten how to play with his intensity – but he has it when it matters (he’s like the Robert Horry of the NHL – I HOPE).  Finally, and the most important lesson: it’s a special team and will be a special season.  Each and every game is exciting – remember this on Friday night when deciding whether to watch the Bulls lose again at home or to see the Hawks take down the league’s best goalie in Buffalo’s Ryan Miller.  Or you can just keep counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report (it’s 52 days away).

**Correction: Higgins scored the Rangers’ goal.  Gaborik had the assist.  H/T: DC Blackhawks

h/t: Andrew

The Blackhawks won Game 5 in Vancouver by playing smart hockey and staying out of the penalty box, while the Canucks allowed the Hawks power play to give them a commanding lead in the series.  Dave Bolland took an amazing feed from Patrick Kane to net the game-winner with about five minutes to go, while on a man advantage.  Those crazy Canadians littered the ice with whatever they could find, pissed about the call.  Too bad, it’s 3-2.  Bullets.

• The Hawks have had a great formula for success so far in the playoffs, with great play from their stars combined with toughness and timely scoring from the bruisers.  Byfuglien had two goals last game and continues to punish the Canucks.
• Patrick Kane has been great since coming back from his injury in the first round.  He’s been scoring goals, making plays, and has been spectacular on the power play.
• The Hawks outshot the Canucks yet again in Game 5.  Only 21 shots from Vancouver last game, and if a similar number come at the Hawks net tonight, you have to think Khabibulin can give Chicago a great chance to close this thing out.
• I wouldn’t expect it to be any less physical tonight.  Vancouver will try and set a tone early, as that’s how they’ve enjoyed the most success thus far.  These two teams are just sick of each other really, which I suppose is bound to happen in a long series.
• The crowd will obviously be insane and should be a big bonus for the Hawks.  While they haven’t been dominant at home in the way they have won games, the Blackhawks have only dropped one home contest so far.

There really isn’t a whole lot else to say.  Win and they’re in the conference finals.  The game is at 8:00 CT on CSN.

The spotlight for the night was thankfully stolen from the Hawks struggles when Martin Brodeur passed Patrick Roy with the most wins ever for a goaltender.  While it wasn’t great for the Hawks, it was nice to see someone like Brodeur set such a great record; especially taking it away from Roy.

After falling behind 3-0, the Blackhawks tried to mount a comeback, but Brodeur was there to turn them away.  Chicago scored with about 2:30 left in the second on a Cam Barker shot, then cut it to one with 2:03 left in the game when Dustin Byfuglien scored.

Nikolai Khabibulin was playing his second straight game for the Hawks after being out with injury.  It will likely take him a few games to get his legs under him and will almost certainly get a rest tonight when the Hawks take on Columbus.

Still, something seems off with the Blackhawks and they’ll need to get clicking again soon.  Even though they had struggled against Detroit this year, this seemed like a team that could give the Wings a run in the playoffs.  However, playing like this the Hawks will be lucky to get out of the first round.