I tuned in last night to the second and third period of Hawks-Wings Game 4 just in time to witness Jonathan Toews take three consecutive minor penalties, fail to get a shot off on a breakaway, and have a pass intercepted on a 2-on-1. Sprinkled in among these offensive failures were signs of an obviously frustrated player, from wild stick swinging to an absolute death stare on the bench to berating officials.
I haven't seen a captain act out his frustrations in such an immature manner since ..... oh. Right.
It's no easy task facing the Red Wings. Even if they aren't as talented as they used to be, beating them requires more patience and more discipline than is required to beat any other team. You simply have to work harder than you usually do. When the Pens played the Red Wings in the 2008 Finals, the Pens didn't even score a goal until 3 minutes remaining in the first period. Of Game 3. The last four games of that series were split 2-2 and were all one-goal games (including Game 5, which is easily in the conversation for best-played playoff game in Penguins history). But by then it was too late. The Wings, deservedly, closed out the series.
Things came easy for Chicago this season. They're probably finally realizing that it won't come that easy against the Red Wings. It just might be too late.
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