While Satan, I mean Gate, had other things to attend to tonight, the Blackhawks and Blues carried on without him with Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals match up at The UC. The Hawks were looking to avenge their Game 3 loss on home ice, and tie the series at two. As news broke during the day of a possible to return of David Rundblad to the Hawks lineup, Q decided he was gonna Q early, and went with Gus instead of Rundblad when it came to replacing Svedberg. With the line blending going early, who knows what combos we'll get during the game.
Once the puck dropped, it was clear the Hawks were looking to set the physical tone early. Andrew Ladd delivered a big body check to Alex Steen to get some more energy into the United Center crowd. With thirteen minutes remaining, Artem Anisimov looked as if he had given the Hawks an early lead, but the puck died on the goal line and we remained scoreless. As the period passed the midway mark, the Blues found their legs and of course Tarasenko would wind up giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead. In the final minutes of the period, following a Hawks turnover, Tarasenko had an opportunity to increase the Blues lead, but he mishandled the puck and the score remained 1-0. After a few chances in the waning seconds, the Hawks couldn't convert and found themselves in a 1-0 hole after the opening 20 minutes.
Before we could even take our seats for the start of the second period, the Hawks dug themselves a bit of a hole. #DickPanik took a penalty 39 seconds in, but luckily for him the PK and Crawford bailed his ass out. As the period went on, the Hawks were able to draw a penalty, and looked to build some momentum. While they didn't score on the man advantage, Andrew Shaw had a Marian Hossa shot redirect off his sweater and beat Brian Elliott to tie the game. After the Hawks got a gift power play from a scuffle that involved goalie Corey Crawford, they took advantage of the opportunity. Duncan Keith picked up a puck off a goal mouth scramble to put the Hawks up 2-1. Late in the period, after a bad penalty by Andrew Ladd, the Blues again found themselves on the power play. They didn't waste much time in tying the game as Tarasenko added his second of the night to make it a 2-2 game. After 40 minutes of play, that's how we would stand.
With the game up for grabs at the start of the third period, the Hawks again found themselves in a hole. This time it was Duncan Keith taking a penalty a minute in. Unlike the penalty at the start of the second period, the Hawks couldn't kill this one off and the Blues took a 3-2 lead. The night went from bad to worse for TVR. After Schwartz picked off a TVR clearing attempt on the previous goal, Alex Steen decided he wanted in on the party. Steen picked off a cross ice pass to Rozsival, and beat Crawford on a breakaway to put the Blues up 4-2. With the Hawks peppering the net, they finally broke through in the third period. A point shot from Duncan Keith hit Tarasenko's stick and beat Elliott to pull the Hawks within one with just over five minutes remaining. With the net empty, it appeared Steen had sealed the win for the Blues with an empty netter, but the play was reviewed and it was determined that Paul Stastny was offside, giving the Hawks hope in the final minute. Despite a flurry of chances in the final seconds, the Hawks couldn't tie the game, and the Blues would hang on for a 4-3 win, and now have a stranglehold 3-1 series lead. Next up is Game 5 in St. Louis on Thursday night with Gate returning for the recap. Oh, and don't forget, Episode 55 of the Shoutcast is on for later today I guess. So that is exciting. Isn't it?
- Seriously, who didn't enjoy seeing Ladd lay out that ballbag Alex Steen?? That's what you get for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Ask Brad Marchand.
- #DickPanik redeemed himself later in the second period by drawing a much needed power play. While the Hawks didn't score on it, they did generate some momentum and score immediately after the power play expired.
- We did see a power play goal tonight from the Hawks. That is some thing positive.
- For someone who's been brutal at the dot all season, Anisimov had a good night tonight. He won 61% of his draws.
- Anisimov had the Hawks best chance of the first period for the Hawks, but couldn't find enough mustard to have the puck completely cross the line. Therefore it was no goal. Kudos to referee Chris Lee for making the correct call on the ice. It sucks he lost sight of the puck, but he did what he was supposed to do.
- #DickPanik took a penalty 39 seconds into the second period. Nothing like starting 20 minutes in the hole.
- Corey Crawford decided he had enough of watching his defensemen do nothing when the Blues crash the net after a whistle. In the second period, Robby Fabbri ran over Crawford (with a little help from Toews), and Crawford went after him. I know people will freak out and say settle down to Crawford, but there comes a time when you've had enough of the bullshit. Frankly it sparked the Hawks for a bit, so calm down.
- TVR had a bad break on the Blues third goal. He was in the right position and everything, but had an unfortunate bounce on his clearing attempt go right to Jaden Schwartz who buried it.
- Well he was going to go in the good category, because normally a three point night is good, but then Andrew Shaw decided to meltdown Chernobyl style in the 3rd period.
- I'm still trying to figure out what the hell Brent Seabrook was doing by screening Crawford on Tarasenko's first goal.
- A bad defensive zone turnover on a Kane to Keith pass nearly bit the Hawks in the ass in the first period. Enough with the let be cute passes. Just get the puck out of the zone.
- After Tarasenko netted his second goal of the night, it'd be nice if someone would fucking cover him. Please. Thank you.
- Once again the Hawks had two bad penalties comeback and bite them in the ass. Tonight it was Ladd and Keith's turn to take the skate of shame to the penalty box and see the Blues score.
- WOOF at that ill-advised pass by TVR that Steen picked off and put in the back of the Hawks net.
- All that garbage at the end of the game. Seriously show some of that fight during the game, then maybe your goalie wouldn't have to.
- I really hope this wasn't my last game to recap for the season. This is way too much fun, and all of you readers and listeners are the best. If there's a team that can pull this comeback off, I'm confident its the Hawks. Lets hope it happens.
- I don't blame Gate for skipping this game. At time's I was jealous of him for being at a Taylor Swift concert tonight.