Chippy Won't Get it Done

First things first. Joel Quenneville did a great job with the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

But his young team played like a frustrated, irritable young team in Game 4 of the Western Conference final on Sunday, which is why they got thumped by a shorthanded Detroit Red Wings club which is now one win away from a second straight Stanley Cup final appearance.

Quenneville vented after the 6-1 defeat that the officials "ruined the whole game." but that was way off base. The Hawks lost their focus and Quenneville couldn't stop it.

The Hawks ruined their own chances by trying to get chippy, the same approach that worked so beautifully against Vancouver in the Western Conference semi-final because the Canucks were so very willing to engage in a tit-for-tat battle.

But not the Wings. They just won't. So when the Hawks tried to get in Detroit's face - "scare 'em off the puck" as Jonathan Toews put it - the Wings just ignored the nonsense as they always do and let the Hawks beat a steady path to the penalty box. The Wings then killed Chicago on the power play, and Mike Babcock kept putting his best guys out at extra strength late in the game as if to tell the Hawks if they wanted to play cheapshot hockey they were going to suffer for it.

Even without Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, the Wings are far superior to the Hawks, but Quenneville can't say that. All he can do is complain in a vain attempt to get the officials to let his players get away with chippy after-the-whistle nonsense- Matt Walker's moronic penalty as time expired in the second was a perfect example - and hope that might distract the champs. Really, the referees could have called more stuff against the Hawks and the game could have been uglier.

Quenneville will get fined for his Game 4 outburst, and he should. You understand his frustration, but the officials didn't lose the game for Chicago. Awful goaltending and zero composure did that.

Comments

[BJ Worth]

I agree. Quennville obviously lost his composure, even during the game. He was yelling at the refs. And it was reflected in the way his team played. They were running around, trying to make hits and gave up a lot of odd-man chances and powerplays. The Blackhawks have the talent to eventually win a cup, but I don't think Joel is the guy to take them there. Don't they have Scotty Bowman lurking in their organization somewhere?

[Bryon]

It's a good lesson for the Hawks, and the young players should benefit in the long term -- just not this year. Rarely do you see a Stanley Cup champion that doesn't play in a cool, professional manner, a style that has become a hallmark of the Red Wings going back to their first win in 1997.

[Chris]

While I agree that the Hawks got blown out in every facet of the game, Quenneville was spot-on accurate regarding the penalty to Matt Walker. With two referees on the ice, it's pretty frustrating as a viewer (let-alone a coach) to see calls like that. I would love to hear the explanation of that unbelievably befuddling call.

[SJ]

I'm still waiting for Brian Campbell to call out his teammate Pahlsson for his "gutless" interference shoulder on Filpula or his other teammate's "gutless" elbow to Leino's head. Chicago blew a golden opportunity to put themselves back into the series... and I thought the Q-stache was going to blow steam out his ears at the beginning of the 2nd.

[Marijan Kalman]

If refs call game by the rules, every team playing against Detroit would be in the box for 20 minutes a game? Last night again they didn't call another 10 penalties on Chicago. Same like last game when they put Hawks on 12 minutes power play.This is descpicable refferieng and if Detroit comes to the Final it is going to be even worse agains them.NHL doesn't want Detroit to win and they are doing everything to stop them!!

[Johnny 2 in Kalamazoo]

Don't forget Brian Campbell. The 7 million dollar a year man. He was on the ice for 4 of Detroit's goals. He also made the bone head play that lost game 2 in over time.

Bad investment for the Hawks.

[mark frayne]

ohh please , the wings are lily white lol ! not with net crashers like holmstrom , franzen and others around . they goad stick and they yap and meanwhile never fight and fall like tenpins when made to stand up for themselves, and the refs protect them like they are the show . franzen is so tough pushing a small youngster around like kane , but when men his own size confront him he is looking for rescue from the refs , . he and holmstrom are just sickening . this team is what people like bettman and cox want from hockey , boring and gutless european style of hockey . is this what we want from the nhl here in canada ? disgusting the euros taking lower contracts to play with other euros on the wings . must be real popular with their union bros . yeah they win and they are efficient , but they are boring and totally euro flavoured . let's put the ten best canadians on one team if they would settle for less pay just to be with other canadians and have them play the wings . no wonder wings fans do not even show up at the joe . they must wonder where honorable players like shanny , stevy y , probert ,and others have gone , and they must watch pukes like holmstrom play .

[Peter]

to Marijan Kalman
which games are you watching? sure, the league doesn't want your red wings win the cup that's why they played half the game on the power play... poor little Detroit.

[Vince Degiorgio]

I wouldn't rip Campbell that hard. He's been smashed, crashed, bashed and hammered the entire playoffs...he's a hittable target and has taken a ton of shots in the playoffs. I'm not a fan, but give him credit: he comes to play, win or lose...

[Jeff J.]

Poor Mark. The most SKILLED team won. And yes, there is a conspiracy to not have the Wings dominate. That's why Gary brought in the Cap in the first place. To establish a level playing field and have it like the NFL where every team has a chance to win every year (except ironically enough...the Detroit Lions). That ensures small markets/sunbelt markets can stay competitive and draw fans. You want to know what a real shame is? That Nik Lidstrom will retire without winning the Hart Trophy. If his last name was Smith, it would have happened by now. It's too bad you don't know skill when you see it. And for what it's worth...Holmstrom is probably the toughest guy in the league. He actually stands in FRONT of the net (unlike that overhyped, overpaid hero of yours Darcy Tucker) who did a great job throwing himself into the boards to make a little noise, but then decided to stand beside the net. Can't think of many Canadians who have absorbed what Holmstrom has done over the past 15 yrs.

[mark frayne]

who says i like d tucker ? at least he stood up for himself every so often . conspiracy lol . yeah the wings are skilled , so are the top ten canadian players , who do not take a pay cut to be on a team with other canadians unlike the euro wings who who obviously do . i have talked to several canadian nhl'ers who state that the euros are unbelievably cliquish and are only in it for the money or for playing with other euros .remember what gretz said in the olympics , absolutely correct ! holmstrom , the toughest lol . every time he gets touched he falls into the goalie . the new rules allow this puke to hide behind the refs , and interfere with goalie . check out how many goals the highly skilled wings get like this , they know the other team cannot touch them . it is sickening to watch , and the worst part is other teams try and emulate this . now will other teams try and get euros to play together for less like the wings ? between bettman , cox and people like you the canadian game is being taken away from us , happy ?

[Chris Moltisano]

I agree 100% with Mark Frayne. We are the silent majority of hockey fans who have to sit back while Bettman and freinds screw around with the great Canadian game of hockey. If good old fashioned hard hitting Wendel Clark style hockey was still allowed, these Wings would go hide in the corner. But now with diving and acting being rewarded, the Wings are superstars. Sure they're "skilled". Whatever that means. But hockey has always been about making plays while avoiding having your head taken off. NOw its about making plays while AVOIDING the opponent. In fear he'll dive or grab his face. The game now is Euro hockey. Not Canadian hockey. Its made for the Eruos and all their Euro ways. Including diving, feigning injury, and turning the other cheek. Thats why we always kicked their a--es. NOw we gotta play by their rules in Canada? Once again we cowtow to everybody else. And the minority of whiners in this country who don't even watch the game.

[Bold Bravado]

Totally agree with Frayne and Moltisano, just wondering when Bettman will insert a Basketball Key type rule for standing in front. God forbid someone get physical and move the guy. The take on Franzen, Holstrom and the balance of the Euro Wings is pretty much a ditto, even the Kronwall hit I thought was clean. Used to be the only penalty called was one that would change the score, take down in scoring position or likewise. It was a true war, a battle with animosity etc. Seperated the men from the boys.

[Marijan Kalman]

mark frayne, we had 20 best canadians in Torino and we got spanked and won wooden medal with so called "canadian style of hockey"!Do you and others remember Torino, Olympic Games,city in Italy,Europe. 20 of our best players spanked, humilated crying on the charter back home!!

[Marijan Kalman]

Poor Peter,I was watching game in whitch Hawks should have spent 40 minutes in the box.As gentleman wrote already,league in which Niclas Lidstrom never won a Hart is joke.Ask players and they will tell you who is the best and most consistant player last 15 years. +/- 400+. But his last name is not Smith and he doesn't talk to idiots like Cherry or CBC crew.

[Tree]

As far as I could tell, Quenneville was only complaining about 1 penalty (that lead to the 3-0 goal, I believe). After watching the game, and then the highlights, I tend to agree with him - I have no idea how that was a penalty. And if it was, I'm lost as to why there weren't off-setting minors on the play (a Detroit player, can't remember who, grabbed him by the face from behind and knocked him to the ice). Maybe Quenneville got carried away with his rant, but he's spot on - I have found myself scratching my head at the calls and non-calls in this round. Game 2 of Det-Chi featured a call on Chicago (even Maguire said he didn't like it - and he rarely says that during a broadcast) in the third, followed by at least 2 or 3 legitimate tripping/interfernce calls not made against Detroit that left Chicago fuming. I think Quenneville's rant was more likely the result of justified frustration at the 2 sets of standards used by the refs. Far to many 'respect' calls for Detroit (where embellishments get the benefit of the doubt by the refs b/c it was done by veteran Detroit).

[Conn Smythe]

I don't agree about the 'Euro' Wings stuff (see Mark Frayne's post).

Mark - really, who cares if the Wings players take a pay cut - it's to keep the team competitive/flexible under the salary cap but to also allow a skilled team to stay together and compete year after year for the cup - what's the problem with that?

I do, however, agree about Holmstrom and Franzen literally sitting in front of the goalie and interfering with him at will. The refs seem to trun a blind eye to goalie interference in the play - off's.

But let's face it - the Wings are too skilled for the Hawks - and as the Hawks are finding out, if you continue to take stupid penalties against them, they will make you pay of the power play.

[Willbur]

Look I am just getting tired of hearing about the Red Wings and how skilled they are. Yes they are very skilled but they are also very dirty. They never overtly do anything really bad, but constantly they are giving little cross checks and little slashes. Constantly, they give little pushes, little bumps and don't forget the pick plays they run on almost every single offensive effort. Holmstrom is going to end a goalies career one of these days when he "accidently" backs into a goalie who is on his knees and falls on him.
I am not defending Chicago here just pointing out that while Detroit is indeed very skilled, they are also very aggravating in the way they play. welcome to the new NHL where fighting is a terrible crime but a little crosscheck to the back is perfectly all right.

[Conn Smythe]

'As gentleman wrote already,league in which Niclas Lidstrom never won a Hart is joke.Ask players and they will tell you who is the best and most consistant player last 15 years. +/- 400+. But his last name is not Smith and he doesn't talk to idiots like Cherry or CBC crew.'

So Lidstrom hasn't won a Hart - big deal. He's won how many Norris trophies? He's won the Conn Smythe trophy, an Olympic gold medal, etc, etc.

He doesn't need a Hart trophy to prove to anyone who knows anything about hockey that he is one of the best to ever play the game of hockey.