Part of that must have been the lack of scoring opportunities leading to fewer whistles than normal.  I definitely was shocked when I looked up to find only four minutes separating the Hawks from going back to Vancouver down 3-1 with their playoff lives in serious jeopardy.  Then predictions started coming true.

“I’m sensing a big game for Havlat tonight…and Havlat could be the guy to help them tie this series up.”

Boom, Havlat scored with about 2:45 to go, forcing overtime after it looked like the Hawks were dead.  Chicago had been relentless in their attack, but nothing was getting through to Luongo.  Then Andrew Ladd made a great pass on the boards to spring Havlat, who found twine to tie it.  Andrew Ladd you say?

“And where has Andrew Ladd gone?  He has one point in nine games and that was a goal in a 5-1 win in the Calgary series.  He had one shot on goal in the first three games of this series after he had 13 last series.  Come on Ladd!”

Well, Ladd wasn’t satisfied with just making me stop talking bad about him, he had more work to do in OT.  Just about three minutes into the extra session Havlat threw the puck across the ice and Bolland drove it toward the net, where Ladd had the game winning tip-in for the goal.

What a gigantic win for the Blackhawks.  A loss would have sent them back to Canada down 3-1 with a series that would be all but over.  Now, no matter what happens up there, we’ll see one more game in the United Center this round.

The Blackhawks did give up the first goal again this game, but it was a different kind of deficit.  For nearly the entire game, the Hawks carried the play.  Vancouver limited Chicago’s chances, but seemed content to try and win this game 1-0.  It almost worked.

Game 5 is Saturday night at 9:30 CT in Vancouver.

Putting aside the fact that teams like Kansas, Clemson, Pitt, and Oklahoma took early exits last night in their conference tournaments, there was one game that was truly historic.  Syracuse and Uconn played one of the best college basketball games I have ever seen.  It took six overtimes and six times as many big shots to decide this one, with the Orange coming out on top.

Uconn was down seven with four minutes left and down two when Kemba Walker scored to tie with 1.1 on the clock.  Then Devendorf hit a shot that would have made this game amazing by itself.  A prayer of a pass ended up with Devenforf hitting a three, but he released it about .01 too late and it went to overtime.  Six times.

Syracuse fell behind in each of the first five overtimes, but thanks to great play from Johnny Flynn and excellent free throw shooting, they always managed to come back.  Then in the sixth overtime they ran away with it to win by 10.

What is it with Syracuse in the Big East Tournament?  They should try and play their home games in the Garden; Knicks fans would love it.  For the Orange to suffer the devastating reversal at the end of regulation, then come back like that in the first five overtimes was amazing.

What does all of this action today do to the one seeds?  You have to think North Carolina is a lock, and it’s hard to see the Big East getting three with Uconn and Pitt losing tonight.  Oklahoma may have played their way out of a one seed with a loss to Oklahoma State.  I guess that means Michigan State has a good shot if they can win the Big Ten Tournament.  Anyway, it was an amazing night, and we’re just getting started!