CHICAGO – We have reached the Pavlovian point in this series now, where predictable occurrences are met by conditioned reactions.
Hockey players, having played through most of four rounds, are — like Marian Hossa and Nathan Horton — playing at some unknown percentage of their full health. Fifty per cent? Seventy-five?
We see it every year.
And in Game 5 of this Stanley Cup final, as if on schedule, a couple of players went down and simply could not return. What made this unique is, it was each teams’ best players.
Patrice Bergeron left the United Center in an ambulance, while Jonathan Toews — who had the courage to cruise the slot in search of a goal and met up with the burly Johnny Boychuk — incurred a considerable head blow.
The Chicago captain’s considerable want to win had put him right on the train tracks, and Toews would spend the entire third period on the Chicago bench as a result. He was unable to play, yet unwilling to return to the dressing room and strip his gear off.
In the end, Boston lost a thrilling 3-1 game to Chicago and trails the series 3-2 heading back now for Monday’s Game 6 in Boston.
Both teams may play Game 6 without their best forwards, and as if by rote, both sides spoke of how many of their teammates would step up and fill the respective voids.
“If you see a guy not dressed, you want to go out and do it for him. We want to do it for (Bergeron),” said Boychuk, who eliminated Toews on a hit that will provide NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan with some Sunday viewing.
Is Boychuk concerned about a possible suspension?
“No, ’cause I’m pretty sure it was clean,” the Edmonton native said. “He was cuttin’ to the net, and I came across and read it, and hit him. Tried to hit him clean.
“I’m going to try and play physical. If he’s going to drive the net, like he’s supposed to, I’m going to try and hit.”
Like he is supposed to do.
You can trot out that old cliché “war of attrition” now folks. The bodies are falling, and the medical staff is busier than the coaching staff from here on in.
And perhaps, in the Boston room, the psychologists.
Although no Bruin will be heard fretting over their ability to send this series back to Chicago for a Game 7 minus Bergeron, it is undeniable that his absence would be a major blow to the Bruins’ collective psyche.
“You can’t think (about) that during the game. Obviously it sucks, but you’ve got to battle out there, then deal with the consequences after,” said goalie Tuukka Rask, who was no less than brilliant in Game 5. “You can’t replace him. But we have some different guys who can step up and play their game. So you adapt, and play a different game out there.”
Yeah. Sure.
Like you’re truly going to play “a different game” after losing your Selke nominee, top faceoff man, and Conn Smythe candidate. Carl Soderberg, a little known Swede with six career NHL games under his belt — none in the playoffs — was asked to fill Bergeron’s spot in the final half of Game 5.
If Tyler Seguin is not planted on that line in Game 6 — between ineffective wingers Jaromir Jagr and Brad Marchand — is will be a resounding statement on what head coach Claude Julien thinks of the young Seguin’s game.
Patrick Kane scored twice for Chicago, both assisted by Toews, who refused to leave his Hawks teammates in the third period. It was truly something to behold, a captain being a captain, and not the least bit surprising coming from Toews.
“It just showed he’s a great leader,” said Andrew Shaw, who took over Toews’ No. 1 centre spot. “He’s going to be out there with us mentally and physically. He’s a great leader and doing a great job with us.
“He’s talking to us, letting us know… ‘Just keep supporting underneath. Play solid D. Block as many shots as you can. Keep working for each other.'”
Like the Penguins, who in 2009 won Game 7 in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena despite only 12 shifts from Crosby (injured 5:30 into the second period), Chicago may now have to close this deal without their emotional bell weather.
Against a Boston team that, only two springs ago, came home for a Game 6 trailing the Vancouver Canucks three games to two — and pulled the series out.
If they did it again sans Bergeron, with captain Zdeno Chara having gone minus-5 in the past two games, the legacy of this Stanley Cup final would go from classic to nearly unbelievable.
“I don’t know how (Bergeron) feels right now, (and) I don’t know if he’ll play or not,” said teammate David Krejci. “We really need him. If not we’re going to (have him) we’re going to try to do everything we can to get a win and force Game 7.”
Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em, boys.
The battle’s almost done, the finish line near.
Rest time starts Thursday.