June 30, 2015

Blackhawks' experience too much for Ducks in Game 7, plus more…

I know this narrative sounds cliché by now, but Jonathan Toews is clutch.

You could argue that there's no such thing as a player that can be counted on in the biggest games, but Toews is probably closer to that designation than any other NHL player.

Toews' two first-period goals turned out to be the difference for the Hawks in the 5-3 Game 7 win. Captain Serious has been Captain Clutch in this series, scoring two goals in both Game 5 and Game 7 – both road games. Toews scored a total of five goals in the series, all from Game 4 onward.

As we already know, Toews has scored many key goals both for the Chicago Blackhawks and Team Canada. Maybe you've cheered for those two teams, but maybe your team was on the receiving end of a Toews goal. On that note, the Toews clutch moment that sticks out the most to me is a game-tying shorthanded goal with just under two minutes to play in Game 7 against Vancouver in 2011.

After that goal, I didn't think the Canucks had any way of winning that game after holding a 3-0 lead in the series. (As a Canucks fan, I've had more than my fair share of "close but no cigar.") But thankfully, Alex Burrows came up clutch himself in OT.

Back to this game. The Hawks increased their lead to 4-0 in a second period that could have just as well ended up as 2-2. But that's playoff hockey for you. 2-2 would have made this a whole new hockey game. But 4-0 means that unless a miracle comeback is in the works, it's pretty much curtains.

Speaking of the 4-0 goal by Marian Hossa, should it have counted? So if the puck is kicked in, it's not a goal. But if it's directed in by the skate with "no distinct kicking motion," it's a good goal. Okay, got it.