It was May 8, 1996 and the Campbell Conference had been dead for three years. After sweeping Calgary in the opening round of the playoffs, the Blackhawks enjoyed a 2 games to 1 advantage over the Colorado Avalance. Time was winding down in the second period of game 4 and when the clock said 0:00 Centerman Jeff Shantz took the initiative to cross-check Claude Lemieux (the Curt Schilling of hockey) in the chops right in front of the referee - probably Don Koharski. A two-minute penalty was assessed - and rightly so. On the ensuing penalty that started in the 3rd period, Scott Young scored to tie the game at 2. The Avs later won the game in overtime as well as the two following games to eliminate the "Dead"hawks and win the right to face Detroit in the Conference finals and ultimately to sweep the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals.
Do any of these facts have a point? Yes, Matt Dillon. If greenhorn Shantz keeps his cool, the Hawks don't give up the power play goal, win the series and ultimately the franchise's first Stanley Cup since 1961.
Flashforward to April 20, 2009. Enjoying a 2-0 series advantage over the Flames, the Hawks near the end of the game enduring a 4-2 beating. No one thought the kids would sweep and Game 3 was resigned to defeat. Yet there was Adam Burish selfishly making a meaningless hit on Rene Bourque with time winding down. No penalty was assessed, but you can bet your ass a suspension is coming.
Burish is a pint-sized tough guy with a heart of gold. No scorer, his presence on the ice gives the enemy pause when they are lining up Toews or Kane with a hit. Now he'll be gone and this will give Calgary the shot in the arm to rebound and take the series.
That's right puckheads, you heard it here first. Just like Shantz's stupidity cost the Hawks the championship in '96, Burish's brain-fart just did the same in '09. And it need not have happened. But when you field a team of kids with little playoff experience, this is what you get. Selfish, dim-witted penalties that take your boot off your enemies throat.
What was Burish doing on the ice - announcing their presence with authority? NUTS TO THAT! Now is the time for maturity, professionalism, restrained cojones, and a couple of Sutter brothers to mill around and not break anything. Is Mark Messier willing to come out retirement and rescue these mutts?
The Hawks won't, and don't deserve to, advance. All Burish can do is take his penalty, sit by himself, and feel shame...and then go free. Free to go back to Medicine Hat and reflect on his sins that cost his team the playoffs. And that's the word of Sand.
Do any of these facts have a point? Yes, Matt Dillon. If greenhorn Shantz keeps his cool, the Hawks don't give up the power play goal, win the series and ultimately the franchise's first Stanley Cup since 1961.
Flashforward to April 20, 2009. Enjoying a 2-0 series advantage over the Flames, the Hawks near the end of the game enduring a 4-2 beating. No one thought the kids would sweep and Game 3 was resigned to defeat. Yet there was Adam Burish selfishly making a meaningless hit on Rene Bourque with time winding down. No penalty was assessed, but you can bet your ass a suspension is coming.
Burish is a pint-sized tough guy with a heart of gold. No scorer, his presence on the ice gives the enemy pause when they are lining up Toews or Kane with a hit. Now he'll be gone and this will give Calgary the shot in the arm to rebound and take the series.
That's right puckheads, you heard it here first. Just like Shantz's stupidity cost the Hawks the championship in '96, Burish's brain-fart just did the same in '09. And it need not have happened. But when you field a team of kids with little playoff experience, this is what you get. Selfish, dim-witted penalties that take your boot off your enemies throat.
What was Burish doing on the ice - announcing their presence with authority? NUTS TO THAT! Now is the time for maturity, professionalism, restrained cojones, and a couple of Sutter brothers to mill around and not break anything. Is Mark Messier willing to come out retirement and rescue these mutts?
The Hawks won't, and don't deserve to, advance. All Burish can do is take his penalty, sit by himself, and feel shame...and then go free. Free to go back to Medicine Hat and reflect on his sins that cost his team the playoffs. And that's the word of Sand.
Suspension? Suspension? If they give Burish a suspension for that, they should also give a box of tampons to Bourque and Keenan!
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