Kronwall hit, Khabibulin status loom large ahead of Game 4
Last Updated: Sunday, May 24, 2009 | 10:18 AM ET
CBC Sports
Detroit's Niklas Kronwall landed a crushing hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat in Game 3. (Paul Beaty/Associated Press)You can measure exactly when the heat was cranked up on the Western Conference final between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. It was at 13:08 of the first period in Game 3 on Friday.
That's when Detroit's Niklas Kronwall levelled Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat with a devastating hit. It left Havlat motionless on the ice and sent Kronwall to the dressing room with a match penalty.
As if these Original Six and Central Division foes needed any more reason to hate each other going into Game 4 of the series in Chicago on Sunday (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3 p.m. ET).
Not surprisingly, most of the talk has surrounded that play, and not on the dramatic overtime finish that came after the Blackhawks squandered a three-goal lead but recovered in the extra session to drag themselves back into the series, which the Wings now lead 2-1.
"Marty didn't have the puck," Chicago defenceman Brian Campbell said. "If [Kronwall] hit Marty and hit him clean, that's fine.
"That happens. … It's just how he hits. You can see his forearms coming up and his hands are coming up and he's lunging forward and jumping into the guy."
Hossa's time to shine?
Sunday could be Detroit forward Marian Hossa's time to shine, if recent history is any indication.
The Wings' leading goal-scorer in the regular season has struggled, with only four tallies in the playoffs so far, but they have all come in the fourth game of the previous two series: Hossa scored two goals in Game 4 of the second round against Anaheim and two in Game 4 of the opening round against Columbus.
"You just have to keep pushing yourself in practice," Hossa said of his scoring slump. "The puck's going in in the practices, you just have to transfer them to the games. You just have to keep shooting the puck, keep creating chances and go to the net hard.'' As much as he says that, Hossa admits the skid is gnawing at him psychologically.
"It's human nature," he said. "You don't put the puck in and then you try to do it harder and harder. You start squeezing the stick. Sometimes it's better to not think about it, to just play. When you don't think, you just have fun and play.''
The play left both teams fuming. Chicago lost its leading scorer in the regular season, who tops the team stat sheet with 15 points in the playoffs so far, while the Red Wings felt that Kronwall's hit was clean and he was punished because Havlat was badly hurt.
No accountability
"Coaches have bad games. Players have bad games. The league doesn't let referees have bad games. So has there ever been a bad call? Accountability," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said.
"To me, that wasn't a head shot. So I don't think you should be hunting anyone's head," he added. "I think that's real important. But I also think it's a contact sport. And the puck was coming around the wall. [Havlat] saw [the puck] coming. He turned, chose not to play it with his stick, was letting it come through his feet. Kronwall stepped up on it.
"That's hockey."
Havlat didn't move for a minute or so, lying motionless on the ice with his eyes open, but he eventually got up and was helped off the ice by a trainer and teammates, looking very dazed.
Neither referee indicated a penalty was going to be called immediately after the hit. Kronwall ended up receiving a five-minute match penalty for interference and a 10-minute misconduct after the delay.
Khabibulin out?
But what might be even more troubling for the 'Hawks is the status of their starting goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin.
The Russian suffered a reported upper-body injury at some point in Game 3, and looked shaky in the second period as he gave up three straight goals. Khabibulin was pulled in favour of Cristobal Huet in the third and didn't return from the dressing room.
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville didn't rule out a Khabibulin return in Game 4.
"Khabi is doing better today," Quenneville said. "We'll see how he presents himself [Sunday], but there's been good progress."
He also remained optimistic about Havlat.
"I thought Marty really looked good," Quenneville said. "Hopefully, he progresses in the same fashion and there's a chance he could play."
If Havlat can't go, either Colin Fraser or Jack Skille will take his place in the lineup.
More injuries
The Red Wings will try to recover from the tough Game 4 loss without Kris Draper and possibly Pavel Datsyuk.
Draper left Game 3 with a groin injury and was ruled out of Sunday's contest. Datsyuk missed Game 3 with a foot injury, and will be a game-time decision.
"Datsyuk is going to be the same thing as it was the day before," Babcock said. "We'll see. I noticed his stuff was hanging up. They're hoping they can get him in his boot and get him going."
If Draper is out, Justin Abdelkader will dress in his place.
