Attempted castaway anchoring Blackhawks playoff run

CHICAGO, Ill – The Blackhawks have made hockey fun again in Chicago the past two seasons. No one should discount the fact that the organization has reorganized and found its way through smart and well-positioned drafting. Patrick Kane is certainly the face of the new, rejuvenated Blackhawks. But maybe the face behind all of the glamour images in Chicago is that of Nikolai Khabibulin, the Blackhawks veteran netminder.  The 36-year old native of Sverdlovsk, Russia has backstopped the Blackhawks to the Western Conference finals. Now that he is there he has the unenviable task of outdueling Chris Osgood and the Detroit Red Wings. Through this week’s games Khabibulin has recorded a 8-6 record with a 2.85 GAA and a 0.899 save percentage.  His performance in round two of the playoffs against Vancouver was solid enough to hold off the Canucks’ offense threats from the Sedin twins and the kitchen sink that was thrown his way.

The Blackhawks last won the Stanley Cup in 1961 And they will be hard-pressed to break that string this year.  But not because of lack of effort or lack of talent at any position on the ice.  Forwards and defense are solid but Khabibulin has given the team  a reason to believe they can win every night, even against Detroit. Ironically it was supposed to be Christobel Huet in this position after he signed a large free-agent contract with the Blackhawks. Chicago tried everything to pare Khabibulin from the roster even trying to get him to sign with a club in his native Russia. Unable to move Khabibulin’s large contract hit the Blackhawks gave him a chance to play, and in the end it was the high-priced Huet who wound up behind the netminder the Blackhawks had tried to dump. Two loses in Detroit have put the Hawks in a must-win position this evening when the Red Wings visit Chicago’s ice.  Local pundits in Chicago predicted a loss in this series but not a sweep.  The youth and talent level of the roster built by general manager Dale Tallon are too great to see a sweep in this series.  But a loss on Friday night will be a crippling blow when facing the Red Wings’ machine. Khabibulin was again solid enough in the 3-2 loss to Detroit on Tuesday to get to OT but the withering number of shots taken by Detroit was too much.
Chicago’s defense will need to block a shot or two for their goalie and reduce his work in game three. For the Blackhawks and Khabibulin this may the last opponent they face together.  At 36, Khabibulin is aging on a team getting younger.  He has started 14 games in the post season and general manager Tallon will need to make some hard decisions in the quickly approaching off-season. But in the meantime, the battle of Detroit and Chicago lives and will entertain for at least two more games. And for once, “Wait till next year” is laced with real hope. Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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