Hawks Win!!!

[als3...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu]

The Blackhawks destroyed the St. Louis Blues before a sellout crowd at
the Stadium to win Game 7 of the Norris Division Playoffs, 8-2. Jeremy
Roenick got the Hawks started with 2 first period goals, while Steve
Larmer made up for his less-than-impressive performance in Game 6 to
notch a goal and four assists, as the Hawks peppered Vincent Riendeau
and Curtis Joseph all night.

The game started off with a lot of forechecking by the Hawks, who came out
playing very inspired hockey. They beat the Blues to every loose puck,
protected their zone well, and the passes were on all night. Ed Belfour,
who gave up 2 quick goals in Game 6 before being yanked, was tremendous
on goal, and gave up his only goals when the game was out of reach.

Roenick got it all started early in the first when he drove to the net,
the maneuvered the puck to his backhand around the defenseman, and lifted
it past Riendeau. The Stadium was shaking at this point, and about 6
minutes later, Roenick scored on a superior individual effort. He got
the puck on the right wing, skated down the right side, then a little bit
past the face-off circle, he cut toward the net. The defenseman tried
to ride Roenick off the puck, but Roenick held him off like he was a child,
and slid the puck between Riendeau's legs, and the puck went off Riendeau's
right leg pad and into the net.

The key goal of the game, though, was a shorthanded goal by Steve Larmer
early in the second, to make it 3-0. It seemed to take all the life out
of the Blues. Denis Savard scored to make it 4-0, and that was all for
Riendeau. Curtis Joseph came in, and later gave up a goal to Dave Manson
to make it 5-0. Paul Maclean finally scored for the Blues on a power play,
but by then, everyone knew the Hawks were going to win.

The lethargy was evident by the Blues when the scored their second goal.
Instead of raising their sticks high in the air, they raised them as if
it was a feeble attempt to win a game they were not going to, and the
sticks barely got over their waists.

Duane Sutter ended the scoring with 12 seconds left in the game, and the
Hawks had won one of the best series that I, and the announcers, Pat
Foley and Dale Tallon, had ever seen. Easily the best series of the
playoffs this year, and Game 7 was not nearly indicative of how close
the series really was. Riendeau making an excellent save in Game 1 to
preserve the win with 1 second left, the Blues winning Game 3 with 9
seconds left in game 3, and Game 7 being the only game decided by more than
2 goals.

Next up for the Hawks, the Edmonton Oilers, whom they had pretty good success
against this year. IMHO, the Hawks can win the Cup if they can play the
Caps, but the Bruins are another story, since the Bruins dominated all
three games this year. Of course, the playoffs are always another story...

GO HAWKS!!!

Felix A. Madera

P.S. Are there any other Hawks fans here? Write to the Hawks and see if
we can get Wirtz to finally TELEVISE HOME GAMES!!! (At least, the
playoffs???)