Praise be to Lord Stanley that the wait is over. Finally, the lid gets lifted on the Western Conference finals in San Jose.
What’s that cliche about an idle mind being a devil’s workshop? Some peculiar hockey thoughts have been expressed these past few days. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
Myth: San Jose will be disjointed, rusty from the eight days that have passed since they tucked the Red Wings in bed.
It’s a wash. The Blackhawks finished Vancouver on Tuesday night, which seems like a month ago. Friday, the Hawks toured Alcatraz, proof that they have too much time on their hands. It’s been a hurry-up-and-wait deal for both teams.
Myth: The Hawks have an edge because the Sharks didn’t face Antti Niemi in four regular-season meetings. Cristobal Huet (ring a bell?) was in goal, winning three.
It works both ways. Niemi hasn’t faced Patrick Marleau, who scored 44 goals in the regular season. He is San Jose’s career leader in games played, goals and assists. Niemi also needs to be a quick study on Joe Pavelski, who has scored four power-play goals in two rounds.
Myth: The Western Conference finals is really the Stanley Cup finals.
The top-seeded Sharks (113 points) and No.2 seeded Hawks (112 points) are entitled to nothing. A great regular season and a couple of bucks guarantee you only a ride on the train.
Ask Alex Ovechkin and the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals if Montreal can win the Cup. Ask Sidney Crosby and the 2009 champion Penguins.
Have you seen Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak? If Conn Smythe votes were due today, he’s your winner. Halak, who made 53 saves in a game against Washington to keep the Habs alive in the first round, sports a remarkable .933 save percentage this postseason.
Goalies’ performances can dictate the outcome of series more than any position in any sport. He wouldn’t be the first to stand on his head in May and hold up the Cup in June.
Myth: It’s critical for the Hawks to start strong and steal Game 1.
It’s nice to score first. It’s nice to take an early lead in the series. But the Hawks lost home-ice advantage by dropping the openers in the first two series.
The NHL playoffs provide a stage for absurd theater. Anything can happen. Friday, the Flyers rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat the Bruins to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Philadelphia dropped the first three games in the series and was left for dead.
Myth: Patrick Kane is having a lousy playoffs.
He’s had a couple of clunkers. So has Jonathan Toews, the postseason points leader with 20. So has Marian Hossa. So has Duncan Keith, the most gifted skater in Chicago since San Jose general manager Doug Wilson was wearing the Indian head.
The reality is that Kane’s short-handed goal in the final seconds of Game 5 against the Predators to force overtime might wind up being the most meaningful moment of the Hawks’ playoffs. Maybe of the last 50 years.
Without it, the Hawks go to Nashville facing elimination.
Kane has scored seven goals with eight assists, tying him for sixth in points in the playoffs. Two players ahead of him — Crosby (13 games) and Montreal’s Michael Cammalleri (14) — have played in more games than Kane’s 12.
Myth: The Hawks party too much.
These whispers grow louder after sluggish performances. The truth is that many hockey players drink. And then drink some more.
Ever hear of the tradition of players hosting the Cup for a few days each after their team wins it? How many do you think enjoyed a bowl of cereal from it?
Dan McNeil hosts the “Danny Mac Show” on WSCR-AM 670 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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