Blackhawks Have Backs up Agaisnt Wall After Game 1 Debacle
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, NHL, Sports
It’s “gut-check” time for the Chicago Blackhawks tonight after Game 1′s 5-1 debacle on Saturday night at the United Center. The Hawks looked scared and lost in the embarrassing home defeat. They will need to elevate their play if they want to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole going to Vancouver on Wednesday.
Antti Niemi stopped only 20 of 25 shots on goal during the game’s 1st 2 periods on Saturday. Head Coach Joel Quenneville pulled Niemi after the game’s 1st 40 minutes and let Cristobal Huet finish out the affair. Niemi did pitch 2 shutouts in the Hawks’ opening round series against the Nashville Predators – both shutouts came after a previous loss tying the series up at 1-1 and 2-2. Does he have a 3rd shutout in his bag of tricks? Let’s hope so.
Everyone needs to play better and the Hawks need to capitalize on their shots-on-goal advantage. In game 1, the Hawks outshot the Canucks 37 to 28, but they only tallied once, on Patrick Kane’s power play goal in the 3rd. But by then it was too little too late.
It’s put up or shut up time for the Hawks at the United Center tonight. Come on, guys – let’s get a W!
