The Blackhawks headed home Wednesday night with their backs against the wall, and the Kings had a chance to knock the Hawks out of the playoffs altogether. In the first period, the Hawks jumped out to a fast 2-0 lead and it looked like they may run away with the game, but the Kings weren't so sure of that. The Kings fought back to make the score 2-1 and then eventually 3-2 before the first twenty minutes were over. Once again, the Blackhawks had a chance to finish the Kings and didn't. In the second period the Kings actually took a 4-3 lead while the Blackhawks played just awful. The good news was that the Hawks had twenty final minutes to tie the game, and they did early on in the third period. This game was going to be decided in overtime and not just one overtime, but two. Spoiler alert: There will be a game 6 in LA Friday night.
- Thirty seconds into the game and Drew Doughboy took a tripping penalty which, of course, was cause for shaming. The Blackhawks answered with a long Brent Seabrook powerless play goal just 1:13 into the game, and this game was hitting the ground running.
- Two minutes and twenty seven seconds after the Seabrook goal, the Blackhawks went end to end in 3 passes, and Johnny Oduya finished to put the Hawks up 2-0. This was Kane's second apple of the game, and second goal by a Hawks defenseman.
- Q mixed up the defensive pairs right off the bat. Keith played with Hjalmarsson, Seabrook played with Leddy and the third pair was Roszival and Oduya.
- Just over a minute after the Stoll goal, Brandon Saad picked up a huge rebound in front of Quick and shuffled it into the net. This is the Blackhawks team that has been non existent for the entire series, but it wouldn't last.
- Just over a minute into the third period, Brandon Saad pulled his big boy diaper up and led a Blackhawks rush. He threw a shot on net that Quick coughed up to a streaking Ben Smith, who tied the game up. Brandon Saad was thoroughly earning his Manchild nickname right in front of our eyes.
- The first overtime was insanity, going end to end virtually the entire duration of play. Not for the weak of heart.
- Shortly into the second overtime, the guy that carried the team all night, Brandon Saad, led a rush with Handzus and Kane, and was left with only Handzus to feed. Zus snuck in behind his man and had Quick all alone to rook a backhand over Quick's glove. Game over.
- Patrick Kane had one of the most quiet four point nights I've ever seen from him. All 4 were assists, but he was engaged and they weren't all secondary.
- Corey Crawford started off shaky, to say the least. The first three goals were a combination of bad defense and marginal goaltending, but the 4th Kings goal was ALL on Crawford. This being said, I know you're all saying, "Why is listed under the 'good' category?". After the second period, Crawford was a brick wall, and especially in the overtime periods. I was texting with a friend between the second and third periods and he asked if they should pull Crawford. After thinking about it, I came up with a resounding "no". I told him that if the Blackhawks were going to win this game, it was going to be because they stood behind their guy and propped him back up on his feet. A "win this for Crow" feel to the game, and that's exactly what happened. He ended up stopping 40 of 44 shots and one more than All World Jonathan Quick, the day after the All World Henrik Lundqvist was pulled for giving up 4 goals on 19 shots.
- Half way through the first period, the all 5 Blackhawks had a circle jerk in front of the net long enough for it to squirt to pain in the ass Jarret Stoll, who beat Crawford through a maze of cock-n-balls.
- Milbury and Jones spent two minutes too many contemplating why Crawford whacked his stick on the boards after the first period. He was mad, you fucking clowns! His defense didn't PLAY defense and they let the Kings back in the game. Is it really that hard to figure this out? He had a right to be angry.
- Marcus Kruger was rag dolled by Jake Muzzin with a clean hit late in the third period and didn't miss a beat. Balls of iron.
- Shaw looked to have injured the same right leg that had him out 7 games, late in the third period, while the Hawks were on the powerless play. He looked like Rob McClanahan in the overtime, clearly nursing the injury, but I give the kid credit.
- Just over 2 minutes after the Saad goal, Marian Gaborik was left wide open on Crawford's back door after Quick made a huge backdoor save in the King's end. The goals were coming so fast, at that point, that I couldn't recap them fast enough.
- Not only did a Versteeg turnover lead to a 2-on-1 that Seabrook ended up bailing out, but then later in the second period Versteeg pulled a "Noonan" and failed to get the puck out of the zone. Fast forward about 4 seconds, and the Blackhawks were fishing the puck out of their own net. I have to point out that Crawford made 2 big saves before Brown finally poked it into the net.
- Two minutes after Brown tied the game, the Blackhawks defended a Kings rush pretty well but Tanner Pearson snapped a long wrist shot over Crawford's blocker to take their first lead of the game. Terrible goal at a terrible time.
- Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford were each minus 3 for the Kings and Marcus Kruger was for the Blackhawks. WOOF!
- What more can be said about the complete non factor of Patrick Sharp? He has been a total non factor, and has been getting pinched on the boards more than I've ever seen from him. My theory, and it's only a theory, is that he has a left leg or foot injury. If you watch him, he always tries to push off his right leg and squeeze by the boards. The defense now knows this and pinches him off when he tries to chip the puck in. An easy solution would be to fake that usual play and slide to the inside. He doesn't even attempt that. Again, just a theory, but it would make sense.
- Kris Versteeg was a turnover machine all game, directly leading to the Kings tying goal. As a result, he played only 6:48. I've beat this into the ground and I said it on twitter but he is really a $2 million waste of space. In typical Jeopardy format:
What is #DammitVersteeg? - Following Versteeg was Bollig with 8:20. I'm exhausted bitching about the waste of space that is Bollig, while more talented players sit and watch from the press box. Whatever, Joel, pin yourself down rolling only 10 forwards. That won't blow up in your face.
- Nick Leddy played the least of all Hawks defensemen, TEN minutes less than Roszival, who was next. It brings to light once again, What do they do with Leddy? If Q doesn't trust him, then why is he here?
2014 Playoff song via HockeeNight:
