Blackhawks 7, San Jose 2
The Sharks still have two points more than the Blackhawks, but in beating them 7-2 last night (their second victory over the NHL's leading team in the past week), the Hawks have climbed to within those two points of claiming supremacy themselves.
Marian Hossa made his long-awaited Hawks debut, and scored twice.
The Hawks- whose only weakness going into the season was said to be goaltending- continue to lead the NHL in fewest goals allowed.
Whole lot of magic, ladies and gentlemen!
Marian Hossa made his long-awaited Hawks debut, and scored twice.
The Hawks- whose only weakness going into the season was said to be goaltending- continue to lead the NHL in fewest goals allowed.
Whole lot of magic, ladies and gentlemen!
Comments
But good on Chicago - they played very good and capitalized on a good percentage of Sharks mistakes. I was cheering for them in the third period, lol!
Doubtless the Hawks' eighth victory in a row was achieve on a bad night for the San Jose side. But we brethren of the Four Feathers are not so foolish as to fail to take note of the quality of the team we beat.
I don't mean to take away anything from Chicago as they are quickly rising to #1 in the conference, but the Sharks have hardly played at home so far this year. I think this was game #9 on my ticket. Now, 7-1-1 is a good home record (they were better last year), but it was the way they were beat that was so disappointing. It was much like last year against Anaheim and it brought back bad memories.
Hockey, of course, has always admitted teams to the post-season who have no business being there and have no chance of advancing. Teams that don't belong don't last. The playoffs themselves (unlike those in baseball, which are little more than a test of who gets hot at the right time)are grueling enough to have some merit of their own as a test of relative strength. Unlike baseball, where any team that's in the playffs can get lucky and end up running the table, teams don't last long in hockey's post season unless they belong there.
That's one reason why I'm not as blase about the President's Trophy as you are. The team that has proven itself to be the best over the long haul may not always, or even usually, end up winning the Cup; luck and hot streaks enter into the equation in hockey, too. But I'd be inclined to bet for the team with the best numbers in the regular season, rather than against them.
So yeah, I think the regular season matters. It determines the draw and home ice advantae for the playoffs, but more than that gives us some idea of who ought to win the Cup, whether they actually do or not.