TheThirdManIn ~ Radio ~ SHOW ARCHIVE "Interview: STEVE LUDZIK"~ August 23, 2010 ~ *NEW AUDIO* Download Former Blackhawk (1981-89), IHL/NHL coach and author of "Been There Done That" buy @ Ludzy.com * You may need to update Flash & Shockwave apps to listen to shows on this web site. Get Flash Player at Adobe.com CLICK THE PLAYER BELOW TO LISTEN HERE.
Click the player below to listen to Thursday night's show.
I'd like to thank Dieter once again for coming on the show. Officially, this is show #41 (I don't care for but a few DMB songs, but that would be one of them. I also like Cheez-Its, gelatin and carrot cake and all of the above usually lead to me hating myself too.) for TheThirdManIn~Radio and this show would be right up there with our best and Dieter deserves a bunch of the credit for that. There have been a few more than 41 shows, but as those who had the misfortune of hearing those live as they were recorded would probably tell you, it was better for everyone concerned that they were quickly erased. We'll get Dieter back on again real soon. Check him out at the Examiner.com or HereComeTheHawks.net.
Topics and discussions on TTMI~Radio edition 41 included:
- Recap and impressions of the Canucks-Blackhawks series - Now annual tradition Roberto Luongo blow-up, Vancouver spanking - What we learned from that series - Giving Dave Bolland his due - Blackhawks-Sharks regular season series. Trends, heroes and such. - Blackhawk bloodlines in San Jose - Who/what were major factors/difference makers over the 4-gm series? - What to make of it? How those games will relate in playoffs - Marian Hossa: What's his deal? Injuries, lack of presence, ?'s going forward - Can the Hawks win the West or a Cup if Hossa doesn't pick up his game? - Is he mentally and or physically tough enough? - In the upcoming series; Our 3 players who must step up for a Hawks' win - The good, the bad and the ugly - Dustin Byfuglien - Should the Hawks attack Evgeni Nabokov ala Luongo? Do they need to? - Potential line matchups. Is Joel Quenneville done stirring his line combos? - Brent Sopel/Jordan Hendry - Hawks-Sharks predictions - What the heck is going on in the EAST? - A possible explanation for the Habs eliminating the Penguins - What is a diploma from the University of Wisconsin worth anyway? - Can Philly do the improbable? - A suggestion for Kaner. How's your Niemi doing? - Is the road to the Cup now setup perfectly for the Hawks, or is that something to be concerned with?
All this and a little more on this edition of TheThirdManIn~Radio.....
Tonight's show was brought to by:
Northern Illinois Inline Hockey League Chicagoland's premier Inline Hockey facility with leagues starting June 3rd in West Dundee (just west of Randall Road on Rte 72 near I-90 in the Northwest suburbs) at Leafs Ice Centre.
& of course CougarLife.com ~!
** Join us on our next LIVE SHOW, this Monday May 17th at 8pm central on BlogTalkRadio.com/TheThirdManIn. We'll be recapping and evaluating Game 1 of the Hawks-Sharks series and of course looking ahead to Game 2. We may or may not have a special guest. Superstar should be along and we'll dip into the email bag once again.
A special edition of TheThirdManIn~Radio comes your way LIVE TONIGHT over at BlogTalkRadio.com beginning at 7:30pm central. Join myself and guest analyst Dieter Kurtenbach of the Examiner.com, the HockeyIndependent and writer here at TheThirdManIn.com for an in-depth preview of the Western Conference Finals series between the 2nd seed Blackhawks and the West's top-seeded San Jose Sharks.
For those who cannot join us live, you can catch the show, as always, in the podcast section of ITUNES, in the archives over at our BTR show page or here on the site later on tonight.
Click the player below to listen to Wednesday's edition of TheThirdManIn~Radio. We discuss the Blackhawks Western Conference Semi-Final elimination of the Vancouver Canucks as well as Roberto Luongo's apparent refusal to embrace any accountability for the defeat. We once again dip into the listener email bag including answering how TheThirdManIn.com came to be some four years ago. Also, Block eats his pregame meal live on the air; Superstar filibusters and then an explanation as to why the "people" should not be heard. And more; "Bad Nuts" and "if you're gonna be stupid, sit with a whole bunch of stupid people." Enjoy. We return Thursday night at 7:30 central for a Blackhawks-Sharks Western Conference Finals Primer with guest analyst and Blackhawks writer, Dieter Kurtenbach.
After the Blackhawks took a 3-1 series lead over the Vancouver Canucks, their head coach Alain Vigneault said that his goaltender was the second best goaltender on the ice.
Antti Niemi proved Vigneault right on Tuesday, stone-walling the Canucks with 29 saves on 30 shots, backstopping the Blackhawks to a 5-1 win and a berth in the Western Conference finals.
The Blackhawks had an offensive onslaught on Roberto Luongo, though the five goals could not match the seven the Blackhawks put up on this date last year when the Blackhawks won the same series against the same team in the same amount of games.
The first period was a frantic offensive mess. The absurd speed of the game was only matched by the absurd play by both goaltenders. Niemi and Luongo held the game scoreless for the first period.
Near the end of the first period Dustin Byfuglien laid a big hit on Vancouver defenseman Alex Edler. The hit forced Elder out of the game. Paired with the injury defenseman Sami Salo sustained in game five, an injury that he toughed out but limited him to 20 minutes of ice time, the Canucks were forced to play seldom used-defenseman Andrew Alberts, who logged 18 minutes of ice time. Missing Edler, playing an injured Salo, and having a healthy but ineffective Alberts left the Canucks with only three viable defensemen. Two of those healthy blueliners, Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff, played over 25 minutes in game six.
Bieksa might have been overplayed, because on after the Blackhawks' first goal, a slot redirect by Troy Brouwer at the two minute mark of the second period, the Canucks' defenseman had a heinous turnover while left alone in the neutral zone. The puck bounced to Kris Versteeg who took the Canucks' zone with Andrew Ladd. Versteeg made a little drag move and forced Roberto Luongo down into his butterfly. Versteeg didn't miss from there. After 22 minutes of scoreless hockey and amazing goaltending, the Blackhawks had broken though with two goals in 36 seconds.
Piercing the armor of Roberto Luongo, the Blackhawks went in for the kill.
Luongo put up a good fight for the remainder of the second period, but in the final minute of the middle frame, with the Canucks on the power play, Dave Bolland took the puck from Pavol Demitra, out skated him through the neutral zone and beat Luongo one-on-one. The momentum shifting play shifted the series decisively in the Blackhawks favor.
Roberto Luongo had a .777 save percentage when his team was on the power play. Luongo allowed two shorthanded goals to the Blackhawks on their nine shorthanded shots.
The Canucks broke up Niemi's shutout with their first goal, the first tally of the third period, scored by defenseman Shane O'Brien, whose shot trickled through Niemi's pads at the 3:44 mark.
Then the speed of the Blackhawks took over. The Blackhawks' next two goals, scored in a 25 second burst with 12 minutes left in the third, were scored on odd-man rushes that allowed the Blackhawks' top line space to work.
The Blackhawks' fourth goal was scored by Patrick Kane, who was able to turnstile Bieksa, leaving the defenseman at the Canucks' blue line, on his way to an effortless goal down-low on Luongo.
The TKO line found themselves on the ice again, and found themselves scoring again on the very next shift, when a Patrick Kane outlet pass found a wide-open Dustin Byfuglien making a break into the Canucks' zone. Byfuglien had Jonathan Toews as support, and perhaps Luongo expected a pass, because as Byfuglien skated in, Luongo opened moved in anticipation of a centering pass. With Luongo's short-side wide open, Byfuglien had no problem depositing his fourth goal of the playoffs and fourth goal of the series.
The No.2 seeded Blackhawks will take on the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference finals. The series will start on Friday if the Bruins finish their conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Western Conference Finals cannot begin until all quarterfinals are complete, and if the Bruins and Flyers go to a game seven, the Blackhawks-Sharks series will start on Sunday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Have you ever had a really weird dream? One of those where you trying to figure out a problem - but are continually frustrated. Well, welcome to my daughter Taylor's world. After Friday night's game she told me she dreamt she was on a line with Toews and Kane. Apparently they were not pleased with her effort, often times rolling their eyes in disgust. At one point they were yelling at her to ice the puck. It was then that she explained to them she had a rubber stick - every time she'd try to shoot the puck the stick would bend. One of the two players threw her a stick and said "there" use that one." As Taylor's nightmare progressed she hollered over to them, "It's a right handed stick, I'm a left wing!"
Until Taylor gets her equipment situation straightened out, I don't think Buff has to worry about being demoted to another line. He's been a notoriously BIG factor in this series. The restraint he showed when O'Brien cross checked him twice and then raked his helmet off was nothing short of remarkable. If he had got up and fought the imbecile, both would have probably been sent to the time out corner for roughing. Instead, the penalty led to an early momentum changing p.p. goal. It's probably a good thing O'Brien kept assaulting Buff, it appeared the referee missed the first two cross checks. Watching Buffy get under the Nuck's skin has been a thing of beauty. I'm thinking if Dustin dyed his hair blonde or pink, he could give Dennis Rodman a run for his money in Chicago sports lore.
"Playing guitar like a ringing a bell," Jonny has been better than good. My boss asked me a question after game 2, "Who do you think is better, Toews or Kane?" Have any of you Blackhawk fans come up with the answer to that one yet? At first glance, one quickly notes Toews's all around play - scoring, face offs, maturity, defense - truly the total package. Then you stop for a moment and think of all Kane's big goals or the magic he possesses when carrying the puck on the power play. Kane also has a very annoying knack, (for our foes), of stripping lumbering defensemen of the puck when it seems they've got to it first. I suspect if a poll were taken to determine who would you rather have between those two - it might end up an even draw. The truth is, when they play together there is a synergistic effect similar to the Harlem Globetrotters Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon. That team is still undefeated!
Actually Toews was quoted after game 4 saying, "I've been trying not to just factor in how many goals I'm scoring to rate how I'm playing." There was one of those little factors at the end of game 4 that transpired in the last minute or so. Jordan Hendry, who had very limited ice time that game, added some fresh legs to our defense. There was one play behind our net where he skated at full speed, knowing he was entering the "collision zone." The "impact" of that play will never show up in the stats, but the puck quickly exited our zone as a result. Actually, in Sunday night's loss, if I have one criticism it would be we avoided those life threatening moments. If we come out with more of an "I regret that I have but one life to give to the Hawks" attitude, we'll be okie dokie.
Forget about the numerous Elvis sightings, did anyone else besides me notice that an Orca Whale sang Canada's national anthem prior to Game 3? While Shamu did a better job than the guy who tried to speed sing our national anthem, the best part of either of the songs was when the crowd belted it out. I never realized just how good we have it with the booming baritone, Jim Cornelison. Makes me wonder how many rinks you could visit and hear such a heart rendering rendition, one that gives you goose bumps - and I'm just talking about when he sings "Oh Canada." I didn't realize it until I read an article in the Tribune that our national anthem is a very hard song to sing for two reasons. First I possess a two note range and second, it's hard to hear Jim over the roar of the crowd.
Where do we start when beginning to describe Wednesday's gala affair! Probably the best way is to jump ahead to Thursday morning. Somewhat of a health nut, I found myself in McDonald's drive through ordering perhaps the unhealthiest meal one can ingest - the #13. I obviously had one to many while watching the game at a friends' who didn't know when to cut me off. That's right Don, it's all your fault. While we didn't resort to shots of Yukon Jack, we put a serious dent in Don's Stella Artois supply. As Ray Davies of the Kinks so aptly put it: "Oh demon alcohol." I'll never do that again and this time I mean it.
The picture of the year appeared in Wednesday's morning Trib. For all you nerds out there, and I think you know who you are, tell me the two characters chatting with Burrows did not take your lunch money, or make you buy an elevator pass in high school. I've never been a big fan of bullies, but someone needs to send a stern message to Burrows besides Dave Bolland. As Dumb and Dumber might put it, "Put another Nuck on the Barbie!"
I've finally found someone to loathe more than Cam Janssen on the Blues. When he skated over to save D.Sedin from Dave "the Undertaker" Bolland, trying to slam the #36 cars head into the board, I began to wonder if I was watching tag team wrestling. I fully expected him to skate over to the Canuck bench and pull out a ladder and ram Boll's with it. The term, "stuck on stupid," is so Alexandre Burrows. Also, will someone please tell me why Bolland got a penalty because Sedin put his stick between his legs just prior to the face off? I'm thinking that's not a desirable position. I'm hoping the NHL doesn't consider suspending the Hawks new enforcer. Keep snarling Dave!
“It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re a fool, than to speak up and leave no doubt.” I’m not sure who said that, but when I write about hockey I’m always treading a thin line. When it comes to match ups, defensive positioning, saber metric’s, floppers vs. butterflies etc., I don’t have a clue. My hockey philosophy is basically skate hard and hit someone occasionally, oh yeah I almost forgot – SHOOT! As a friend recently put it, “I played the game with one philosophy…keep moving because a moving target is harder to hit.” So, now that you’ve got my confession that I have no idea what I’m talking about, let me key in on a few moments that I felt were the turning point in Monday’s game.
First, there was an early shift in period one (I can’t even remember which line it was – it was shortly after the Nucks hit the crossbar that would have given them a 3-0 lead.), that was a huge factor in a momentum change favoring the Hawks. As the boys skated to the bench after suffocating the puck in the Nuck’s zone for over half a minute I hollered, “Nice shift boys!” It seemed a lot of people in the sections around us echoed the same sentiment, as we gave our grinding warriors a mini standing – O. While nothing compares to the elation of finally denting the twine, it was obvious that the effort was greatly appreciated. It was one of those moments that Chris Block mentioned is required to advance to the next round - “a willingness to take the game to the tough areas.”
The outcomes of most games are determined in those little battles, the intangible areas that never show up in the stats. These moments tend to be the catalyst’s that can often be the difference between a W or L. One of the great things about being at the U.C. is that you notice more of the little things that go on during a game. The snarly attitudes (Bolland), the Free Bird (Steegs), the abominable snow shower (Burish), an indomitable spirit (Ladd), the desire to get back on defense (Hossa) or the willingness of a defenseman to absorb a pulverizing check behind our net. (Campbell).
The much maligned Dave Bolland played Game Two like he had a bug up his proverbial butt. He was just plain ornery. I guarantee you; somebody pooped in his Cheerio’s that morning. I had forgot he had a beautiful assist on the # 7 cars goal, and still thought he was one of the main dogs on the ice for us Monday. With the doggedly determined effort of his line mates, Versteeg and Ladd, they held the Swedish Sauna line to a total of 5 shots on goal! There were many little things to enjoy at the game, but one of my favorites was when Mighty Mouse gave Samuelson one last facial as the refs tried to maintain order. I’m pretty sure dropping the gloves is not Bolland’s forte, but he would have been a handful on Monday. A Hannibal Lechter move was not out of the question. On a night when all 4 of our lines were rolling, this line reached a little deeper. Andrew Ladd played like someone who wants to win a Stanley Cup. I’m sure it took a twelve pack and a long limo ride for Steegs to finally fall asleep after his winning dagger.
In December, 1944, one of the greatest military battles in WW 2 took place in the bucolic countryside of the Ardennes in Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge was called by many the turning point that hastened the inevitable surrender of the thinly stretched German forces. However, had Hitler’s last ditch, desperate attempt to thwart the Allied advance succeeded, Belgium would most likely not be bilingual today – the constant bickering between Wallonia and Flanders would have been resolved.
The ingenious plan devised by Hitler, and against the wishes of his generals, was to launch a major counter offensive in the midst of one of the worst winters in the regions history. At his juncture of the war, surrender was not an option for Adolph. Hitler’s aim was to split the British and American forces and cut off their only sensible point of supplies, the port of Antwerp. Without supplies, the Allied forces would not be able to advance into Germany. Die Furher’s plan was based on surprise, terrible weather and what he thought was the soft American GI. He also thought the Allied commanders could not launch a quick enough response to counteract the forceful thrust of the German might. The British and Americans were quite often at odds with each other as far as the recommended plan of attack. Fortunately for the Allied Forces, General Eisenhower didn’t consult Congress before quickly assessing the dire situation.
When the commanders of the Allied forces realized what was happening, they knew they were in big trouble. No one expected the German’s to go on the offensive since they had been hightailing it back to the Fatherland as the Allies kept tightening the noose in their forward advance. When Eisenhower assembled his commanders he could see that worry permeated the room. His statement to the leaders could be good advice to our warriors in Game Two; “The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster. There will be only cheerful faces at this conference table.” Within two days the Americans had moved 400,000 GI’s into the arena to try to contain the German advance. A commander in the town of Bastogne was completely surrounded by hostile forces calling for his surrender. The commanders reply, “NUTS!” Hitler was about to find out a thing or two about what he considered the soft American soldier. I certainly expect nothing less from the Hawks.
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