Extending any series not recommended
A basketball coach said something a couple of weeks ago that applies to the Blackhawks this morning.
Doc Rivers was looking forward to the Bulls playing the Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
"I hope so," the Celtics coach said when asked whether the Bulls were a dangerous team. "I hope they take (Cleveland) to seven games, triple overtime, everything."
Rivers want- ed the Bulls to wear out the Cavaliers, whom he expected the Celtics to play in the second round.
Fast forward to Sunday night, when the Canucks averted playoff elimination by beating the Hawks 4-1 in the United Center.
The Western Conference semifinal series hasn't gone to seven games yet and there haven't been any overtimes, but the Canucks extended the Hawks at least two more nights and possibly four.
The Hawks still lead the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal 3-2 with chances to close out the series Tuesday night in Vancouver and if necessary Thursday night back in the UC.
Either way, by losing Game 5 the Hawks also lost precious rest, apparently because they were too immature to understand how important it was to dispose of the Canucks as quickly as possible.
The Hawks looked surprised that Vancouver actually came to Chicago, much less to the rink, much less to play quality hockey.
After winning twice on the road the Hawks came out flat on their home ice. The intensity wasn't there, the passes weren't crisp, and the hits weren't completed.
Tomas Kopecky had some zip to his game. Dustin Byfuglien was highly visible. But their Hawks teammates didn't exactly distinguish themselves.
Rather than voluntarily retiring from the series, the Canucks made strategic adjustments, played with more discipline and looked like the better team for a change.
"We had a one-game mentality," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said, "and we gave ourselves a chance."
The Hawks allowed Roberto Luongo, the Canucks' struggling goalie, to get his ice legs back and limit scoring chances by smothering the puck.
Meanwhile, all those mindless penalties the Canucks took in Vancouver? The Hawks too them back here.
Overall, the Blackhawks skated with little urgency, while Vancouver was aggressive from the start, scoring less than a minute into the first period.
"It wasn't the start we were looking for," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We got zapped (right away) and didn't respond."
Now, even if it's just one more game and one more trip from Chicago to Vancouver, that's more stress and strain than the Blackhawks needed. San Jose, the other team in the Western finals, has been relaxing since eliminating the Red Wings on Saturday night.
At this time of year, when hockey players have bumps on their bruises, a little time off is a good thing.
The Hawks squandered that opportunity, and even if they finally beat the Canucks in a sixth or seventh game, one of the subsequent story lines will be how the extra wear and tear will be a factor.
The doctor certainly didn't recommend that the Hawks play one more game than necessary on the way from Chicago to Vancouver to San Jose.
mimrem@dailyherald.com