Friday, April 25, 2014

Playoffs: Blackhawks at St. Louis
Game 5 OT Win

"STRIFE"


The Blackhawks headed back to St. Louis Friday night to face the Blues in game 5 of the series. The Blackhawks had 1-0 and 2-1 leads but lost both before heading to overtime for the 4th time in 5 games. The Hawks took their 3rd game in a row with a break-a-way goal midway through the first OT.

The Good

  • The Blackhawks struck first when Bryan Bickell squeezed past a Roman Polak and led a 2-on-1 with Hossa. Bickell's pass to Hoss was a terrible one that Hossa struggled to control. Hossa stuck with the play long enough to find it on his stick with a wide open net. Backes was in his typical asshole mode, checking Hossa into his own goaltender and eventually into the net.
  • The Hawks almost went up 2-0 on an early powerplay as Duncan Keith's shot squirted by Miller, but Miller was able to reach back and cover the trickling puck before Andrew Shaw was able to jump on it.
  • Late in the second period, Ben Smith finally capitalized on his strong play. He picked up a rebound in front of the net and backhanded it over Miller's blocker for a 2-1 Blackhawks lead.
  • Just when everyone was holding their breath and Backes was pressuring the Blackhawks in their own zone, Crawford made a big save and Keith chipped the puck to a wide open Jonny Toews for a break-a-way the other way. El Capitan does what he does, and finished the game for a huge Blackhawks win in St. Louis.
  • Hjalmarsson was a stud, once again, blocking 6 shots, which was double any other player.
The Bad

  • TJ Oshie tied the game just over halfway through the second period. The play started off with Bickell making a big hit on Steen. The puck was still able to make its way across to the streaking Oshie, who originally mishandled the puck. That led to Crawford committing early and taking himself out of the pay. Oshie stayed with the puck and pushed it past Crawford.
  • Eary in the third period Nick Leddy decided that a 1 goal lead was enough to take an end to end rush. His shot missed the net and rang around to lead a Blues 2-on-1 the other way. No one covered for Leddy and puck ended up on the stick of Pietrangelo who beat Crawford to tie the game.
  • For the first time this series, the Blackhawks were beaten at the dots
The Ugly

  • Barret Jackman winning the Calder trophy is the equivalent of Jim Carey winning the Vezina in 96. Fucking piece of smoldering garbage.
  • David Backes finally came and skated to the tune of minus 2 and 35% at the dots. El poopoo.
  • How bout that Brandon Bollig? The right response is "who?".

Here are the video highlights:



2014 Playoff song via HockeeNight: