Dear Jon Davis,
I respect you. In fact, I consider you a dear friend. But, I have to be honest, I hate your Chicago Blackhawks. Friday night's 4-3 Vancouver win was one of the more exciting and enjoyable moments of this regular season. Of course, you alerted me to your plan of watching the game on a DVR delay, so texting for joy was off limits. But now I can tell you that when Daniel Sedin guided that puck past Marty Turco for what would eventually be the game winner, I was out of my seat and going nuts. I really, really wanted to share that with you in the moment, but this will have to do.
The season series between these amazingly bitter rivals is now dead even at 2-2. Now, you guys can hold that 7-1 win from eariler in the season over our heads, and that's fine, but a win is a win, and we're even at 2-2, as I said. We don't get to play each other again this year, and isn't it just fitting that we'd finish the season series even like this? I mean, as much as I hate your Blackhawks, is there any team I get as pumped up for over the last 3 or so years? The honest answer is no.
The second round playoff battles between our two teams, despite always ending in heartbreak for me, are the epitome of hockey excitment. There is no better example of what a hockey game should be like than a battle between the Canucks and the Blackhawks. The fans, the real and obvious hatred between the players, the fights, and the unmatched intensity. I don't know about you, but if I had to pick a game that I thought would get a non-hockey fan to convert to liking hockey, I'd sit them in front of the TV for the average 'Nucks/Hakws tilt. I think you would agree.
But, as you also might agree, our teams are kind of headed in different directions this season. At 34-10-9, my Canucks are leading the Flyers by 2 points as the best team in the entire NHL. Meanwhile, your Hawks are 27-21-4, sitting in the non-playoff qualifying #11 spot in the West, 2 points back of the 8 seed. Are my dreams of a third straight second round collision between our two teams in danger? Is the Canucks shot at retribution in the second round against Chicago going to have to wait for 2012 or beyond? Does the Canucks Stanley Cup Championship run have to go through without the chance to vanquish the ghosts of playoffs past? I sincerely hope not.
Despite being a Blackhawk hater, I am officially pulling for you guys to turn things around and make a run for a playoff spot. I want that playoff match between Vancouver and Chicago. I need it. I don't know what the playoffs would be without it. So, come on Jon! Cheer your boys on to some wins. It wouldn't be the same without you.
Yours in JC (Johnny Canuck),
Tommy
The Canucks get a breather tonight, as they welcome the underachieving Ottawa Sens. A win would not only be the seventh victory in eight tries against the Canadian Caps, but it would also continue to solidify our grip on the President's Trophy.
Go Canucks Go.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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