The Blackhawks took a 1-0 series lead into game number two, Sunday afternoon at the United Center against the Minnesota Wild. There were a few lineup changed do to injuries and illnesses, but the Blackhawks had a goal in mind.
The Blackhawks scored goals in each of the first two periods to take a lead into the third period. They gave up a goal early in the third period, but then followed up with two goals to take a 2-0 series lead. Not the Blackhawks best game, but enough to get a win.
- Morin started for Bollig and Nordstrom started for the injured Shaw. Versteeg was back after his chronic case of suckitis.
- The Hawks opened up a 1-0 lead just over halfway through the first period. Hossa snuck way behind the Wild defense and came in 1-on-1 against Bryzgalov. Bry made a great toe save after Hossa deked him, but El Capitan followed the play and was able to smack the can-o-corn into the net. Cannot fault Bryzgalov on that one AT ALL.
- Saad, Kruger and Nordstrom played together while Versteeg, Handzus and Morin spent time together.
- A Nick Leddy retaliation penalty in the second period led to a few tense moments on the penalty kill, but Crawford was huge and made a nice desperation save.
- Bryan Bickell had a two on one break late in the third period that he blasted off the post, but just a few minutes later he had a 2-on-1 from he other side and shot to the same side, beating Bryzgalov for a 3-1 Hawks lead. I guess there is something to this "Bickell is a playoff performer and that's what he is paid to do" stuff. in this game alone he had 2 goals and an assist, 2 shots, 2 shots blocked and 3 shots missed the net.
- Brandon Saad had 2 goals, including a shot off Captain America's stick immediately following a powerplay, late in the second period. His second goal was an empty netter.
- Hossa, once again, had a very quiet three point game. Minnesota needs to control Hossa's production if they are going to make a series out of this.
- Crawford had another wonderful game. Unfortunately, that means we're in for a real stinker, in the near future.
- Hjalmarsson was hit in the cake hole later in the first period, which was enough to stop play, but recovered and later came back.
- The Wild came out with an agenda in the second period, but couldn't tie the game early on. Instead the Blackhawks gained momentum and took control back.
- Minnesota beat the Hawks at the dots due to Mikko Koivu winning 74% of his faceoffs. Marcus Kruger only won 30%, and needs to get better.
- For a game that had a surprising amount of action, the hots were only 22-19. I call bullshit.
- Even though I don't remember seeing him on the ice at all, Jeremy Morin was minus 1 in 5:42 of ice time, so he was basically no worse than Bollig.
- Early in the third period the Wild caught the Versteeg/Handzus/Morin line out on the ice with the 3rd defensive pair, and all hell broke loose. Eventually, the puck ended up going in, with Roszival spinning around like a top.
- Duncan Keith decided that playing with fire was something that he was interested in when the Hawks were pressed in their own end, midway through the third period. He tried a fancy cross ice pass deep in the Hawks zone that was picked off. Luckily for Keith, his partner bailed him out big time.
- Spurgeon, Suter and Parise were all minus 3 on the afternoon.
2014 Playoff song via HockeeNight:
