That summarizes my night as I watched the Hawks win their first playoff game in a long time! I’m not really sure how much of each emotional reaction was directed towards myself and how much was meant for the team, but I suspect most of the guys on the bench shared my feelings.
Last night victory wasn’t a dominating win. I didn’t expect one and in a strange way I was actually happy that they didn’t get one. It was the kind of win I expected to see -dominated by the players you hoped would dominate. Khabibulin, Dunc’s and Seabs kept the team in the hunt defensively and Marty Havlat continued to show that he’s always been both a regular season and a playoff ‘go-to’ guy.
The kids (most of the team) are still finding their playoff game balance-that middle place between being too tentative and too charged-up. I think we’re the one's who need to be patient-those of us roaring and fist pumping-as THEY learn what this is all about. The instructions are simple:
Don’t make mistakes
Don’t take penalties
Don’t take unwarranted chances in a close game
Keep your head
Play with abandon
If some of those sound contradictory, you're right, but teams need all of the above in various situations to go deep into the playoffs and that’s why experience is such an asset to a team in the post season. Following those instructions with the roar of the UC and the flood of camera lights juicing your adrenaline to new, uncharted levels isn’t such an easy thing. This team has talent, and winning the first game buys some time for each player to find their “Happy Place”! Confidence in your veteran players allows younger guys a little slack while they find their place, but before this series is over, I predict the timing, speed and precision will come together in a way we haven’t experienced yet. It will have to. That's what the playoff's are all about.
Now if we could only do something about that power play!
Go Hawks!
-tib
