NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The scene tonight shifted to Music City Nashville as the Chicago Blackhawks visited the Predators in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The result wasn’t good for the visitors, as Nashville put Chicago away by the score of 4-1 and now has a two-games to one lead in the series.
Being the home team allowed the Predators to make the last change to adjust the pairings on the ice and it really worked in their favor tonight. A lot of credit goes to Head Coach Barry Trotz as he led his team.
Very early in the game the Blackhawks dominated with a few strong shots on net but Pekka Rinne was up to the task and was able to focus on the play in front of him. Chicago then could not get in to any flow as they were called for three consecutive penalties. Nashville didn’t fare as well either as they went through three penalties themselves.
You wouldn’t know from this game that these were the two least penalized teams in the regular season. You can tell that the Predators came out with a more physical game tonight as it went to their advantage. The Blackhawks seem to be just skating around with no sense urgency.
After things settled down, it was the Predators that got the first tally on home ice at the 13:00 mark in the second frame. Right wing Joel Ward backhanded his first career playoff goal after Antti Niemi gave up a rebound to his right.
Four and a half minutes later on the man advantage, the Blackhawks were able to tie up the game as Marian Hossa fired a shot from the near blue line that bounced off Kris Versteeg’s stick, to rebound off a defender and to Tomas Kopecky who scooped the puck in.
Nashville dominated the second period scoring two goals. Former Blackhawk Steve Sullivan came rushing down the far lane with David Legwand rushing down. Legwand received the outlet pass from Sullivan deep and was able to tip in the puck to put the team up by one. Halfway through the period defenseman Shea Weber launched a slap shot from the point that deflected off Hossa and in for the goal.
In final frame, the home team Predators put the game away as a penalty shot was called and right wing Martin Erat converted with a wrister to put the Blackhawks away.
Rinne stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced in the win as Niemi saw 35, stopping 31. Ten penalties were called as the Blackhawks had six.
This game was unprecedented for the Predators. They knew how to adjust and take advantage of the situation. Looking at the boxscore you wouldn’t know that the team plays a trap game even though Trotz dislikes calling it that. The team was very physical; they had more than their usual share of penalties but more was that the number of shots they took.
The Blackhawks were never in the game from five minutes in when they had their chances. Head Coach Joel Quenneville needs to place the right combination on the ice like he did in the playoffs last season that produced results. For the team to get back in the game, they need to play physical and cause chances in front of the net. Rinne is a big goalie in net and they need to press him and crash the net.
They will have another chance on Thursday night. With Patric Hornqvist, the Predators finally got some greatly needed output from Legwand in the game.
Western Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-7) W2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. W7-Nashville Predators Game 1 – Friday, Apr. 16 – Nashville 4 at Chicago 1 Game 2 – Sunday, Apr. 18 – Nashville 0 at Chicago 2 Game 3 – Tuesday, Apr. 20 – Chicago 1 at Nashville 4 Game 4 – Thursday, Apr. 22 – Chicago at Nashville, 7:30 *Game 5 – Saturday, Apr. 24 – Nashville at Chicago, 2:00 *Game 6 – Monday, April 26 – Chicago at Nashville, TBD *Game 7 – Wednesday, Apr. 28 – Nashville at Chicago, TBD
Nashville leads Series 2-1
Contact Matt.Chin@prohockeynews.com
