Chicago Sun-Times

UH, WON AND A TWO

- STEVE GREENBERG sgreenberg@suntimes.com | @SLGreenber­g

So let’s talk about that Blackhawks championsh­ip parade. Should it begin at the United Center? Monroe Street to Michigan Avenue to Grant Park to party-like-it’s-2015 bliss? Oh, and can a couple million or so revelers remember to wear masks and remain socially distant?

But seriously, people: Don’t you look at the Hawks at least a tiny bit differentl­y — more flattering­ly — after their 6-4 victory against the Oilers in Game 1 of the teams’ Stanley Cup Qualifier series? Didn’t their four-goal first-period blitz make you wonder if a team seeded 12th in the Western Conference might be capable of winning a best-of-five series and then, well, who knows?

“It’s one game,” said defenseman Duncan Keith, a real barrel of fun.

Somebody start decking out one of those ginormous parade buses.

With baseball fighting against the possible demise of its season, the NBA bubbling on without the Bulls and the NFL attempting to carry out an invisible preseason, the Hawks in the playoffs is kind of the best thing we’ve got going.

Jonathan Toews roared out of the gate. Dominik Kubalik is a goalscorin­g machine. Patrick Kane hasn’t even gotten started yet. Sure, Corey Crawford let in some goals behind a shaky defense, but who has time to worry? There’s another mighty big game to slay on Monday.

Which reminds me: If the Hawks get their rear ends handed to them in Game 2, I’ll deny having written any of this.

Here’s what’s happening:

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Corey Crawford and Duncan Keith celebrate near the conclusion of the Hawks’ 6-4 victory Saturday over the Oilers in Game 1.
GETTY IMAGES Corey Crawford and Duncan Keith celebrate near the conclusion of the Hawks’ 6-4 victory Saturday over the Oilers in Game 1.
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