Blackhawks Blank Wild, Take 3-1 Series Lead

By Rob Winn in News on May 8, 2013 3:40PM

The start of the first period Tuesday was eerily similar to game 3 with the Blackhawks scrambling and the Wild playing with reckless abandon. But 10 minutes into the game, even though they were outplayed, the Hawks found themselves with a 1-0 lead after Patrick Sharp tipped in a shot from Michal Handuz. As the period wore on the Hawks regained their composure and let their skill take over. In the final minutes Jonathan Toews made a hard move to the net and ended up sprawled on top of Wild goalie Josh Harding. Harding was slow to get up but finished the period. After the first intermission young backup Darcy Kuemper skated out to the net.

From the second period on, the Hawks controlled the game. They blocked shots and put the puck on net with more urgency. On the first shot Kuemper faced, Patrick Sharp had his second goal of the game.

Goalie Corey Crawford played outstanding and stopped several great scoring chances early on to keep the Hawks in the game. "I felt good, but I got a lot of help from our guys," Crawford said. "We blocked a lot of shots, a lot of stuff on the side. We were clearing rebounds after the first shot. And we were so good on the PK, so many big blocks and just clearing the puck. That was the difference."

Later on Bryan Bickell put the game on ice with a shot from almost behind the net to make it 3-0. The Hawks now head back to Chicago with a commanding 3-1 series lead.

For a game that was billed as a slugfest, this was hardly that. The hits were there — as they always are in the playoffs. But the Wild looked like a beaten team after Harding went down and they called on their third stringer. Look for the Blackhawks to come out with everything they have on Thursday. They would love to close out this series quickly, after all a little rest never hurt anyone.

This was exactly the type of game the Hawks will have to play for most of the playoffs. The scouting report on them has been well established: Hit them into submission and attempt to clog their offense. No one is going to let the Hawks play the open, fast-paced style that they love. And to create great scoring chances they will have to do it from their defensive end.

Yes, the first line continues to struggle and didn't tally a point again. But you can only hold great players down for so long and let's give a little credit to Wild defenseman and likely Norris Trophy winner Ryan Suter. But as this game showed, the Hawks are much more than a collection of talented scorers. They can play defense and kill penalties with the best of them. And all the talk about Corey Crawford letting in soft goals is unmerited. Like it or not, he has been one of — if not the — best player on the ice in this series. They will need to keep up this style to close out the series and move forward in the playoffs.

Also, goal or two from their power play would be nice. But let's not get greedy.