Chicago took advantage of all their calls and non-calls tonight and beat the Wings pretty easily. Not a good effort by Detroit at all. It really reminded me of the 1997 series against Colorado where Detroit had gone up 3-1, then got spanked in game 5. Will they rebound at home in game 6? We’ll see.

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Tonight is a big night.  Remember what I said last game about it not being any different than any other day?  I lied.

Outside of the rise of our defense, easily the best part of the playoffs has been the consistancy of our each of our lines, especially our third "kid" line.  Nyquist has been absolutely Datsyukian.  Brunner is tied with the team lead in goals.  Andersson looks like a freaking veteran out there and is solid as a rock.  

So why the heck are they barely seeing any ice time?  

Take a look from last night: 

Brunner: 11:19
Nyquist: 10:26
Andersson: 10:24

It was approximately the same for our fourth line. 

Hit the jump for more: 

Oh my gosh. I mean, wow. It’s like, DUDE! Are you kidding me!? I just can’t… wow. Just, wow.

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Tonight is not special.  It is just like all the others that end in 'y'.  And, despite what anyone tells you, the series will not be decided in the next few hours.

If you are like me, then the only Chicago Blackhawks fans you will engage in conversation with are the intelligent, respectful types. Especially on twitter, which sort of corners the market on rude little trolls. @Hockeenight and @AndrewCieslak are two such Hawks fans. Not everyone from opposing fanbases (and their blogs) needs to be angry, venomous, hateful, bitter, poor sports and sore losers with conspiracy theories on the NHL and its officials. With that prefaced, I think everyone should take time to look at this series from a Hawks fan’s perspective and read what was posted on Hockeenight yesterday.

The last two games are scary for myriad reasons. First, the Hawks and Wings have a history. You might have heard about it. The phrase "you never went through us" has to strike a nerve. The Blackhawks didn't beat Detroit when the won the Cup in 2010. They never had to.

For more: http://hockeenight.com/2013/05/21/killed-the-lord-left-for-the-new-world-.aspx

Ah yes. A true statement that is fun to say to Hawks fans when you wish to get under their skin. The article goes on to mention his fear and dread that this is actually happening the way it is, and the frustrations at seeing Joel Quenneville more interested in gooning it up at the end of Game 3 than trying to tie it. Has Q not seen the Boston/Toronto game? A 2-goal deficit with 90 seconds remaining is not the end of the world…

But as a Wings fan not from the area, I lack a bit of the hatred that fuels an intense fire burning down all objectivity, reason, and respect when dealing with Chicago fans. So I sort of get to see this thing from the outside looking in, I guess. And I think it is fascinating. Mostly truth written there, Chicago is the better team. We have a history that (since we have dominated) means little to them. But since we have lorded it over them for so long, they wish to cash in on our rebuilding era and league-leading injury rates to finish this rivalry on a good note, which to them means embarrassing us.

I just have to believe that ending it the way Game 1 played out, a 4-1 stomping and the potential for a sweep (just ask any “expert”), is ill-befitting of the nature of this great rivalry. The two organ-i-sations have gained great renown over the years. The Hawks now have Scotty Bowman and quest after the same dynasty that we once held. The Wings have 22 consecutive playoff appearances, 6 times reaching the Stanley Cup Final and winning 4 in that stretch. We have been and admirable, if not honourable, foe for all of our rivals along the way.

This fight does not end abruptly. It may not end pleasantly, either, but at least everyone will know that battles on the ice being fought by rookies and led by European players deemed to lack talent (you are an idiot, Glen Healy) will still end this rivalry with as much intensity and competitiveness as it rightfully deserves.

Video leaking out of the Red Wings ghastly new playoff pre-game ritual: Sacrificing a Goose.

That's our lovable Swiss Sniper gone straight K-31 (Karabiner...7.5x55, a real beauty) on a fellow rookie and Game 3 hero, Gustav Nyquist. If this turns out to be the winning formula, Nyquist may retire at the end of the year.

Huge thanks to @WorldofIsaac on twitter for the .GIF. That guy is famous now.

LGRW

Someone at NHL.com read what is turning out to be my favorite article ever and has taken our suggestion of mocking Dan McNeil to a new level - take a look. 

Just to be sure, here's how the story begins: 

The hammer and the nail don’t have a rivalry anymore.

Says who?

After 87 years and 800-plus games, a columnist seemingly based the Game 1 outcome – which happened to be the Blackhawks’ eighth straight win over the Red Wings in the all-time series – to declare the Wings-Hawks rivalry dead.

I love it. 

By the way, coward Dan McNeil hasn't responded once since Detroit's victory Saturday - not making a peep on Twitter once.  Really owning that aren't ya Dan?  

LGRW. 

When one says “the fans at Joe Louis threw more octopi on the ice than the Wings put pucks in the opposing net,” one tends to feel weak, feeble, and like hockey really isn’t all that important of a sport, anyway.

But when 4 octopi hit the ice, each of which is gloriously twirled by arena manager and local deity Al Sobotka, you know we might be okay. Combine that with our record of scoring 3 goals whilst Jimmy is in net and Z as our Captain, and you have an OH MY GOODNESS I CANNOT BELIEVE WE’RE UP 2-1 ON CHICAGO.

What did I tell you? Nothing you didn't already know in your Red hearts: The Detroit Red Wings can beat this team. Chicago is good, but not the invincible juggernaut some claim they are. Not by a long shot.

What you just witnessed was a scene from Rocky. I know Chief over at A2Y kind of has the market cornered on awesome Rocky references, but I need to steal this one. Before Rocky and Apollo fight for the first time, Apollo comes out clowning around as if his victory is assured. He got in some shots at Rocky and looked to be in complete control, but then Balboa absolutely drilled him and down went Apollo Creed. He got right back up, but the look of horror on his face said it all. He had asked for this. He had thought it would be easy, but he was in the ring with a guy that could hit him harder than he's ever been hit before.

Now what is Detroit going to do with this new life they’ve earned?

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