Blackhawks Edge Wild 5-2 In Game 2
Patrick Sharp and Michael Frolik had two goals apiece, and the Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Friday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
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Patrick Sharp and Michael Frolik had two goals apiece, and the Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Friday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
In the midst of a slow, gritty contest, Game 1 ultimately went to the Blackhawks because their third line beat the Wild's top defensive line in overtime.
Ray Emery was on the ice taking shots from goaltending coach Stephane Waite before Thursday's practice, but when the rest of the team took the ice, the backup goaltender headed back to the locker room.
The Blackhawks are likely going to get by the Wild without much more trouble the rest of the way. However, Quenneville & Co. now understand that Crawford can make the key save when the game is on the line.
Fortunately, the Blackhawks' defense never wavered, allowing them to survive a strange game that included a missing goalie, a stickless goalie and at one point, a blade that fell completely off its skate.
Bryan Bickell scored in overtime on a two-on-one rush, and the Chicago Blackhawks started the playoffs on a winning note after dominating the regular season, beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Tuesday night.
It didn't take long for the Blackhawks to gain a huge advantage in their opening round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.
There was optimism that Saad could contribute this year, but it would have been a stretch to think he would be the key to the Blackhawks rolling four lines deep.
The Blackhawks are the best team in the West and should be on a collision course with the Penguins. But there will be challenges, and when they get to the second round, they could face a huge one.
While the sights and sounds of the playoffs are familiar for a team making its fifth straight playoff appearance, the expectations this year certainly are not.
