The Chicago Blackhawks face a daunting task as they make their final preparations for Tuesday night's Western Conference quarterfinal game with the Vancouver Canucks. On a distant horizon sit the Canucks, up 3-0 in the series and a game from moving on to the conference semis.
Before the 'Hawks can cross the chasm between the two clubs, they have to make that first step.
Chicago can't win three games tonight. They can only address the game before them Tuesday.
We've seen Vancouver justify their regular season so far, being the better team over the course of 60 minutes in each of the first three games. Tuesday will be the eighth meeting of the season between the teams. I'm sure the 'Hawks are aware of what it takes to beat the Canucks.
By this point in the series, they should also realize that they have to execute for the entire 60 minutes.
Whether you want to curse fatigue, injury, poor roster decisions, phantom calls, locusts or whatever excuse gets you through the night, the fact is that Vancouver will be there at the faceoff. The 'Hawks have to play the hand they were dealt through the conclusion of this series, whenever that may be.
Is it time for an obituary on the Blackhawks' 2010-11 campaign? That depends on the Blackhawks.
Short of seeing Dave Bolland come out of the dressing room (and if he does, don't expect him to be wearing a cape) or Bryan Bickell and Ryan Johnson back in the lineup, the 'Hawks go to work Tuesday night with the same cast of characters.
Coach Joel Quenneville may decide to insert a surprise addition to the lineup in a final attempt to shake things up.
He doesn't have the second coming of Bobby Hull in his back pocket, however. The cavalry isn't coming. If the 'Hawks are to climb from their present depths, they must do it themselves.
In lieu of practice Monday, the Blackhawks held a team meeting. We can only speculate as to what was said or shouted in the course of that gathering. I strongly suspect that the word "pride" was uttered on at least one occasion.
The names on more than a few of the sweaters may have changed, but this is still the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. For at least one more night, they need to skate into the fray with heads held high and sticks on the ice.
There will be plenty of time to celebrate or eulogize. Right now, the 'Hawks need to go play 60 minutes of hockey.
Hopefully it's their best 60 minutes.
Aaliyah Katherine Heigl Lorri Bagley Leslie Bega Maria Sharapova
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