Ladies and Gentlemen, Blackhawks Save of the Year
What more can be said about Nashville that we haven't said 5 times previous. They are a tough team from top to bottom with defense that will choke opponents to death. The Hawks trailed the Preds by 3 points, coming in. With the Preds struggling a bit, in their previous 10, the Hawks could really help themselves out with a point, minimum. Unfortunately, the Hawks hadn't beaten the Preds in regulation all season. After a big shootout win against the Blues, Thursday night, it was time to lock in some playoff momentum.
The first period was surprisingly in the Hawks favor. They scored a powerplay goal, and the defense played a solid team period to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. With 28 total shots in the first period, that was more shots than some entire Preds/Hawks games. The second period turned into a complete end to end shootout, with three Hawks goals, and 2 Preds goals. Five goals on 15 shots doesn't say much for the goalies, but they actually didn't play a bad period. The Hawks gave up two goals to tie up the game, in the third period, but were able to score one of their own to squeak out a big win against a good team.
- The Hawks finally got a powerplay goal, even though it was actually scored by Hal Gill, with Sharpie getting the credit. I will say that the Hawks some great pressure on that powerplay. It looks like the actually adopted a different setup, with a more pronounced 1-3-1 setup and a defenseman at the point. Whatever it was, I'll take it!
- Jimmy Hayes was in the lineup for the first time in quite a while, and looked like he was interested in planting some Preds into the boards. For the three minutes we saw him.
- Kaner, Hossa and Bolland hooked up for a powerplay goal, just a minute into the second period, to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. Kane entered the zone and dumped it off to Hoss, who was to Rinne's left. Hossa saw Bolland streaking off the bench, and floated a really nice saucer pass over two Preds defenders, and Bolland put it into the net. I wouldn't believe it, if I didn't see it with my own eyes; two Hawks powerplay goals.
- Nik Hjalmarsson made a great defensive play, following a Lurch penalty, and hit Kaner for a break-a-way, to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead, not even halfway into the game. Hammer was able to avoid a forecheck right next to Crawford, let the puck slide between the Preds player's feet and stick, then look up and hit a backwards skating Kaner. Kaner turned on the speed and beat Rinne low.
- Vik Stalberg put he Hawks up 4-0 with his BLAZING speed. He walked around a Preds defender and cut in on Rinne. Rinne made the save, but was down and out of sorts in the crease. Stalberg wisely picked up his rebound behind the net and threw it back at Rinne. The puck hit Rinne in the ass and ended up in the net. The visiting Hawks fans went nuts.
- Andrew Shaw showed some beautiful vision, great hands, and some sick passing to set up Brent Seabrook to grab some momentum back from the Preds. Shaw sent a backhand pass from the corner across the crease to Seabrook, who was sneaking in on the back door. Rinne was clearly as surprised as we all were that Shaw got that pass off, and was late getting over to cover. Huge, Huge, Huge goal.
- Stalberg has played absolutely great lately. His speed is just ridiculously scary, if you're playing the Hawks. As a secondary player, I'm looking forward to him giving more defenders fits.
- Crawford made what I would consider, four of the best saves he has made all year, in this game, including a save that I have already proclaimed the Blackhawks save of the year, against Spaling. Spaling had a gaping net, and Crow kicked his leg and glove over, to stuff the shot. I already vote that, "Save of the Year". No competition.
- Just saying, another big win without #19 and #2.
- The Preds finally broke the shutout about half way through the second period on a powerplay. Martin Erat snapped a wrist shot from the top of the circle, that had eyes, and beat Crawford.
- Just about a minute later, the Preds scored their second goal of the game off Johnny Oduya's foot. Shea Weber threw a wrist shot into the zone after a bad Oduya turnover, and Oduya's skate redirected it up and over Crawford.
- Alex Radulov anally raped Seabrook and O'Donnell to bring the Preds within one goal, and over 15 minutes left to play. He danced right up the middle of the Hawks zone and split 6-7 Sea. Not to be out done, and pulled it to his backhand and beat a floundering Crawford. That kid had some serious talent, and just another one of the reasons I'm sticking with the Preds as my pick in the playoffs.
- Shea Weber scored his second goal of the game on a second bad Dave Bolland penalty, to bring the Preds back to even with the Hawks. Crawford really didn't have much of a chance on the play because he was screened three players, and Weber has a 106 mph shot.
- Bollig, Hayes, and Olsen all under 4 minutes of playing time. Quenneville chose to ride his horses, but how tired will they be tomorrow?
- Another nightmare night for Los Meatbalos. The Blackhawks had SIX hits. They can't possibly win a game like THAT, can they?
- Late in the second period with the Hawks on the powerplay, Dave Bolland turned over the puck at the center dot to Spaling, for shorthanded break-a-way that Crawford got a piece of. That could have turned the game around for the Preds if Crawford didn't make that save. Brutal turnover, though.
- The Hawks got their asses kicked at the dots, again. Kaner, Kruger, and Sharpie were 5-32. OUCH!
