Forty Minutes ACTUALLY Well Spent: Hawks 3, Bruins 1

From a distance, it might look as if The Hawks didn't do things a whole lot differently than yesterday; they were right there with The Bruins for two periods and were kinda kicked around in another.  However, they managed to avoid completely collapsing in the second period, which was largely dominated by BOS, the power play was working and a few Hawks players turned in stunning performances.  What ya' waitin' for?

The Power Play: those first two PP and the early part of the double-minor in the third period were terrific, and it was easy to see how those shifts were different than 96% of what The Hawks' PP has delivered in, oh, four years - speed.  They moved the puck urgently.  Passes were fast and on target, and the puck carriers refrained from dawdling about trying to decide which stationary teammate they would attempt to pass to.  I loved it, and I just hope that it wasn't a mirage, 'cos that's how their PP can and should look ALL THE TIME.
They did lapse back into their plodding ways, midgame, but old habits and all that...
Toews was a beast today, shooting hard, chasing down pucks and making smart passes, and Kane was almost as good even though he disappeared for most of the second frame.
Keith had his best game in about two weeks and Erik Gustafsson put together a second consecutive game in which he drove the play from the back end so well that he is, for now, the point man on the first PP unit.  He seems singularly able to consistently locate Kane in greasy areas and has, lately, been getting good, low shots on or around the net.  I rather wish he'd not stand around wondering what to do in The Hawks' end of the ice quite so much but, for now, I'll take this.
Forsberg was fine even if he wasn't really tested that often.  The one goal against was a legit shot, so it was good at least that he didn't let any junk past him.

Yeah, The Bruins were a little under-manned and were somehow more penalty prone even without Brad Marchand, but the win is ours and there were many positive takeaways from the game.  I'm very eager to see how the PP performs in Winnipeg on Thursday.