From: stanm@comm.mot.com (Stan Macasieb)
Subject: Hawks-Lightning Review
Reply-To: stanm@comm.mot.com
Organization: Motorola
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 13:40:09 GMT


One word best describes the Blackhawks' performance against the Lightning
Wednesday night: ugly.

The blame could be spread around the Hawks lockerroom quite evenly. It's
hard to believe that a team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals only
four months ago could play as badly as they did against a team not expected
to make it to the playoffs this year, much less contend for the Cup. 7-3?
You could've sworn it was the Bears losing to the Buccaneers.

Let's start with dumb penalties. The one thing the Hawks wanted to avoid 
much of the year haunted them early, setting up a 5-on-3 situation that
Lightning winger Chris Kontos capitalized on early for the first Lightning
goal (no pun intended) in history. Kontos would have three more by the
time the 2nd period was complete, and a flurry of caps and visors. Only in
Florida...

The vaunted Hawks defense was shot full of holes, as evidenced by the five-
goal outburst by TB in the first stanza. Because the Hawks found themselves
shorthanded much of the time, and, caught in their attack mode in the offensive
zone, the Lightning found a number of 2-on-1 breaks that they were able to bang
home. Only a "cheapie" goal by Cam Russell, his first NHL goal a routine
dump shot that scooted past a surprised goalie Wendell Young, kept the Hawks
from being totally embarrassed in the first period. And Ed Belfour seemed
tentative at times during that flurry. He couldn't decide whether to cover up
on the shooter or anticipate the pass to the man sitting near the goalcrease
left wide open by his defense. No-win situation.

The second period was great for the Hawks regarding shots-on-goal (4), but
not so hot on goals-against (2). 

If there's anything to take out of this game, the Hawks did look respectable
in the third, finally shutting down the Lightning offense while picking 
up a goal of their own.

The Hawks did have a few quality chances to score. Young looked decent out there.
Seven goals didn't hurt, either.

----------

Opening ceremonies were covered by SC Chicago, and what was seen took a long time.
MC Alan Thicke ("Growing Pains" star and true puckhead) sang the Canadian
National Anthem and seemed too smarmy for my tastes. Kind of liked the escorts
for Commish Gil Stein and Lightning ringmaster Phil Esposito.

The fireworks and laser show before the game in Expo Hall left a haze over the 
playing area. Nothing you don't see in a Bruins home game when it's 80 degrees
outside.

Expo Hall is a bandbox. ~10,000 seats, no upper deck. Lots of screaming
fans a la Chicago Stadium during the US National Anthem. A hellhole for the
opposition, but a sweet place for the home team.

There's still revenge for the Hawks Sunday at the Stadium, 7:30 PM, against
the Lightning. But there's a date with the Golden Brett and the Blues in
St Louis 7:30 PM Saturday to deal with first. Both games on WLUP-AM (1000), 
the Saturday game only on SportsChannel Chicago.

******************************************************************************
--Stan Macasieb (stanm@comm.mot.com)              |  1992 Election Ballot
--Motorola, Land Mobile Products Sector           |  
--Schaumburg, IL (just another suburb of Chicago) |  For President-
--------------------------------------------------|
~~The opinion expressed in this post is not       |  ___ George Bush (GOP)
~~necessarily those of this corporation.          |  ___ Bill Clinton (Dem)
~~Copyright 1992, all rights reserved.            |  ___ H Ross Perot (Weenie)
******************************************************************************

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