Sunday, April 25, 2010

Miracle at the United Center; Hawks Win!

Hawk's Win Miracle in The United Center
Photo Courtest of ChicagoBlackhawks.com

The Blackhawks take the series advantage after beating the Nashville Predators in a miraculous 5-4 overtime finish Saturday afternoon at the United Center. Entering game 5 the series was tied 2-2 during a post-season roller coaster with each team going 1-1 while at home. Chicago lost game 1 at home by a score of 1-4, then took control in game 2 with a 2-0 shutout. The roller coaster started in game 3 as the Hawks looked lost on the ice and took another loss in the series falling 1-4 to the Preds again. During this time coach Q had multiple line switches trying to find the perfect combination and answered in game 4 with another shutout; 3-0. While heading into game 5 everyone in Chicago knew they had play a full 60 minute game, stay physical, keep pulling the trigger on net, and play stong defense. The game didn't go as well as planned but the result was in-describable. 

Nashville scored first off a wrister by Legwand who was assisted by Ward who shut down the vision of Niemi as the puck sailed passed him 6 minutes into the 1st. The Blackhawks kept the aggression and drive up, which they have failed to do as of late after a Pred goal, and after a backhand by Ladd on a loose puck and a slap shot by Hjalmarsson from the point the Hawks ended the 1st up 2-1. Hawks out shot the Preds 10-4 in the 1st and the period ended with no penalties on either team.

The Hawks kept peppering the net in the 2nd out shooting the Preds 14-4 but ended the 2nd still only up by 1; 3-2. Hawks scored first in the 2nd after a Kopecky penalty ended and while coming out of the box a pass by Hossa left Kopecky alone against Rinne, Rinne tried a poke check on Kopecky which was averted and Hawks took a 3-1 lead. A separation goal is a great advantage while on ice except when it only lasts 67 seconds. Nashville scored a shortie during a Hawks power play as a terrible pass by Kane left Keith on a 1v3 as a pass to Ward from Legwand beat Niemi. 

Preds took the 3rd in their own hands after scoring early in the period with a string of passes by Nashville and a blown coverage by Bolland left Erat open and Niemi frozen in the butterfly. Erat would etch his name on the score card one more time as he slid a puck in the 5 hole of Niemi after another string of passes by Nashville. I'm not one to throw anyone under the bus, however, Bolland played the puck rather than his position and blew his cover on both 3rd quarter Predator goals as Preds grabbed a 4-3 lead with 9 minutes left in the game.

Let's skip to the Blackhawk's miracle...

63 seconds left in the game, Hossa is flying down the ice behind the Preds net trying to generate as much offense as possible, Hamhuis played the puck as well and Hossa was called for a boarding major as Hamhuis slid into the boards. Preds while on a Power Play with only 63 seconds left in the game surely have this game in the bag.

Hawks were basically playing a 3 on 5 as Kane stayed back by the blue line hoping for a turnover and a pass, however, the Preds were not about to let up on offense. An aggressive play by Keith behind the Hawk's net allowed the Hawk's to gain control and get the puck to Toews who brought it into the Preds zone short handed. As Toews circled around in the zone, he made a cross ice pass to Seabrook, whose slap shot hit the crossbar! Hawk's gain possession again and a pass from Seabrook to Toews allowed for a wrister which was pad blocked by Rinne, and with THIRTEEN SECONDS LEFT Kane grabbed the rebound and backhanded the puck into the net!!! Hawk's tied the game up 4-4 and headed into overtime with 4 minutes left in the Preds power play.

Hawks entered into overtime with a much needed momentum change in their favor but the Predators were not about to lie down. The Predators generated many chances on net during the remaining 4 minutes of Hossa's boarding penalty, putting 5 shots on Niemi. Niemi had to save 2 great chances by the Preds on their overtime power play but ended empty handed as the Preds still have yet to score a power play goal in the series.

With 7 seconds left in the Preds power play, the Blackhawks finally gained control of the puck in their zone and Sopel brought the puck up into the Predator zone. Sopel who controlled the right side of the ice with the puck played like a veteran as he kept the puck instead of shooting or passing to draw out the remainder of Hossa's penalty. Sopel hit Hossa as he left the box who passed it around the boards to Bolland, then back to Sopel who took a shot from the point which deflected off Bolland somehow right to Hossa who took a quick wrister to score the GAME WINNING GOAL!!!!!

Hawks Win! Hawks Win! who cares about the rest of the blog, Hawks head into Nashville leading the series 3-2!
  


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