The Blackhawks took it to the the Blues in St. Luiz Saturday afternoon. They opened up looking like a team not even worthy of a playoff appearance, but came back and even took a 3-2 lead.
The Hawks had that 3-2 lead until the final seconds of the game when the Blues took advantage of a tired Hawks PK group and tied the game up. Once again the Blackhawks were headed to overtime and gave up a goal about 5 minutes into the frame giving the Blues a 2-0 series lead. Game three will be Monday night at the UC.
- It took the Blackhawks almost two full periods to do anything positive. A deflected Duncan Keith shot ended up getting past a helpless Ryan Miller and brought the Hawks back within one on the final minutes of the second period.
- The two remaining goals by Seabrook and Rozsival were basically garbage goals as well. Both were deflected off Blues defenders. Lucky for the Blackhawks but nothing to really write home about.
- For a second game in a row, Corey Crawford kept the Blackhawks in the game. The first goal as a bad angle, but the shot block in front threw him off, and the OT goal was a bit of a squeaker. If it weren't for Crawford, the Hawks would have been down 3 or 4 after 20 minutes.
- The Hawks centers were good at the dots, to the tune of 51%. On the road in the playoffs, that should help keep you in the game.
- Shattenkirk had 3 points and was one of the top players for TOI. That guy is pretty good. I'd take him and Pietrangelo in a heartbeat. They are a solid duo. Just too bad they play in the crotch of America.
- The first Blues goal was a marginal one, that was as a result of a shot block that had the puck ricochet to the right circle. Crawford had over committed to the original shot and ended up out of position.
- Brandon Bollig played 3:33 which equates to SEVEN shifts. No need to roll 4 full lines after a 5 period game two nights ago and then another OT game today; because sandpaper.
- When you are at a powerplay deficit of 9 to 4, you're not going to win many games. Especially when one of those is a 5 minute major.
- While Hossa had some great defensive plays, he also had 8 shots that equated to no points.
- The second Blues goal was a complete shitshow. The Blackhawks were running around in their own zone and Crawford had to bail them out once, when Sobotka drove through the crease. Unfortunately, he slid out of position. The puck made it's way out to the point and into the net. At this point the Hawks looked terrible. Just terrible.
- The Blackhawks comeback will forever be overshadowed by the Brent Seabrook hit on David Backes. Let me be clear, the hit was suspension worthy. Backes was slouched, and Seabrook came in high. This is exactly what the league is trying to rule out. The Hawks will be without Seabrook for a minimum 2 games. This said, let this be some Karma for all the ass hattery that goes on with the Blues. Here is said hit:
- After the Seabrook major kill, the Hawks were gassed. Even though there was a feeling that all that fire the Hawks were playing with was going to work out, but it was not to be. With 6.4 seconds and the goalie pulled the Blues were able to finally get the tying goal past Crawford.
- Under the radar was Bryan Bickell's knee to knee hit on Sobotka. I realize that Sobotka tried to duck the hit a little bit, but it's not a very good play by Bickell.