Blackhawks Vs. The Preds: Games 1 & 2

I didn’t even notice the aerobic workout I was performing as I watched the Blackhawks dump it up after a standing room only ticket fell into my lap Friday afternoon. (The very last row in the 300 level has two stairs and I was stepping up and down from behind the hand rail to watch the game when it was right under me from a steep view behind the “Hawks’ Nest”). The National Anthem was deafening and things were optimistic for a while from a fan standpoint especially with a 1-0 lead headed into the third period. Trying to breakdown the game from 500 feet up, I was a little uneasy even with the small advantage, and with good reason. The Hawks were being too cute with the puck. It’s one thing to be patient, but the cute play of the Hawks cost them the game. I’m not pinning the loss on him, but Brouwer’s turnover at the blue line is a perfect example to point out the blatantly obvious. The Predators (what an odd mascot name by the way, as most people think of the sexual kind these days particularly with the popular MSNBC show To Catch a Predator) out-grinded and out-hustled the Hawks all night, chiefly (pun intended) along the boards in the corners. They played good team-defense setting traps deep in the Hawks’ zone reeking havoc and creating turnovers. Annti Niemi allowed a questionable goal and he took full responsibility for it. Some people said the ice conditions were bad due to a Bon Jovi concert nonetheless and that the puck took a funny bounce. I think Niemi just got caught sleeping and maybe it was a combination of both, but he let it roll off his back and slammed the door shut in game two.
He wasn’t particularly busy Sunday night, but he saved 23 of 23. Some of which were superstar saves. My favorite of the night was after blocking a point-blank shot and unfolding into full-out splits, he blocked another as he slide across the paint to block the rebound. It was simultaneously graceful and groin-straining to the eye. The Preds’ net-minder Rinne is having himself a series as well. He’s very athletic between the pipes for sporting that 6’5” frame as he displayed that while standing on head throughout game two. He was busy early and often as Nashville committed four penalties almost consecutively, one of which led to a Bolland goal in a second period power play. A nice quasi-spin-o-rama by Toews found Bolland in front of the left circle who made an excellent backhand shot to light the lamp. The Hawks were a little less cute, but certainly were still patient and not peppering Rinne with shots. Maybe the game plan was to stay patient or maybe the Hawks had good reason to not recklessly fire shots at Rinne because he was eating every thing that came his way with not much loose change in front of the net. This could have forced the Hawks to pass more and find that perfect shot. Kaner gave the Blackhawks an insurance goal in the 3rd period and they took a 2-0 victory as Niemi pitched a no-no. They head to Nashville with the series tied at 1, but game three should apply the pressure on the Preds to play well in front of the home crowd and not let the Hawks steal a game back. The boys in the Indian sweaters should be a little more loose in game three and hopefully get that game one loss back in Nashville.

Tape & Pine Tar:

The White Sox are on a four game skid. The bullpen, the team aspect that I was must skeptical of, has been lights out. The starting rotation and the offense especially have been, to understate, underachieving. Ozzie’s decisions, like batting Kotsay third, which is absurd, so absurd that Jerry should fine him, isn’t helping at all.

The Cubs lost the series to the lowly Astros. The bullpen is, well, pathetic. Lineup changes are on the way with Byrd going to lead off against lefties as Theriot will be dropped to the eighth spot. One of the possibly very many shakeups we’ll see throughout the season.

The Bulls got stomped on by 13 in game one of their playoff series, not a surprise to me. I know that it’s tough to get swept, but that’s my prediction. I like the fire and the woofin’ that Noah is bringing, but it’ll just add fuel to King James to put the Bulls away easily and rapidly.

Remember to tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com

PREACH