The Predators are using their toughness to force things to the outside and above the goal line, and it's totally stifling the Blackhawks' offense. Chicago saw six players score 20 plus goals, yet no one has stepped up to get that coveted first goal of the series. The Blackhawks soon began to live up to their championship pedigree though, outshooting the Predators 23-9 over the final two periods.
Crawford is struggling, but will start again tonight in Nashville.
The second game started off at a breakneck pace, with a Viktor Arvidsson breakaway and a Richard Panik goalpost within the first minute.
Since the Coach's Challenge did not result in the original call being overturned, the Chicago Blackhawks forfeit their time-out. Everyone knows that the hardest game to win in any National Hockey League playoff series is the last one.
If they wanna win the game they're going to have to fight for it. Win face offs, take quality shots, and get the puck in the net. In between, the Predators' defensive game frustrated the Blackhawks, with Rinne neatly cleaning up any messes left over.
It may be hard to wrap around your brain, but the Blackhawks are far from dead in the water and here are five reasons that the Blackhawks cannot only get back into this series against the Predators, but eliminate them and advance to the next round. This thing's not over yet.
But fear not, the series is far from over if history has anything to tell us. His first, off a turnover, went over the net.
Yet there also is the opportunity to send a message to the rest of the Western Conference teams still competing.
Riddle homers in 9th, Ozuna catch helps Marlins top Mets 4-2
Making his first career appearance on the mound, Martinez gave up a single but retired the other three hitters on grounders. Mike Leake outpitched 2016 NL Cy Young Award victor Max Scherzer, Stephen Piscotty homered and had five RBIs, and the St.
There was some expectation from Predators fans that Hartman, who led the Blackhawks with 70 penalty minutes in the regular season, would get rung up with a suspension for this assault and general late-game shenanigans.
The next game is a big one for the Predators.
Two games isn't much.
"We've been executing really well these two games, but two is not going to cut it".
Finally, what's been excellent to see about the Predators is how unfazed they are by the Blackhawks, especially as the series has gotten chippier. The Blackhawks are entering the zone by chipping the puck down and chasing after it where they are met with consistent pressure against the boards. In that way, this defense has shown it's more able to slow the Blackhawks than in the past. Game 7 would be back in Chicago on April 26. Additionally, an extra option or two on the rush should help the Blackhawks overcome the neutral zone disruption employed by their opponents.
The Blackhawks will look to force a game 5 tonight in Nashville at 8:30pm CT. Backup goaltender Scott Darling has had a pretty good season and now is the time to give Darling the nod. Nashville now has a 2-0 lead in the series with a 6-0 goal advantage. That Pekka Rinne has shut the Blackhawks out in both of those games is almost unimaginable. The Hawks remained silent until after the game, when they vowed to be better. Keep doing what you're doing. The Blackhawks seem to know that based on their public comments since the Game 2 beatdown, and hopefully they'll come out with the proper effort to live up to the situation.
The Blackhawks haven't scored a goal yet in the series, so Predators goalie Pekka Rinne has two more points - thanks to secondary assists in a 5-0 romp on Saturday at the United Center - than any Chicago player. Holtby said the key is to focus on the next game.
Comments