Blackhawks Head Back To Chicago Down 2-0

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 20, 2014 2:30PM

Any hopes for a split of the Blackhawks first two games against the St.Louis Blues in their opening round Stanley Cup Playoff series left the ice along with Brent Seabrook's skates in the third period Saturday. Seabrook was assessed a charging penalty and a game misconduct for a hard hit on St. Louis' David Backes and left the game with 4:51 in regulation. The Blues were handed a four-minute power play and forced overtime with a Vladimir Tarasenko tip-in with 6.4 seconds in regulation. In the overtime period the Blues made the Hawks pay with Barret Jackman's slapshot at the 5:50 mark.

Game 2 saw a more physical play from St.Louis and the Blackhawks got away from their puck possession style. The Hawks were called for41 penalty minutes to the Blues' 20 but were outhit by St. Louis 26-18. St. Louis' Chris Porter started the scoring in the first period with a slapshot at the 7:08 mark. Kevin Shattenkirk made it 2-0 Blues on a wristshot with two seconds remaining in the period.

The Hawks managed to get untracked late in the second period with a Duncan Keith goal at the 17:25 mark. The Hawks took a 3-2 lead in the third period on goals by Seabrook and Michal Rozsival and spent much of the last moment in regulation killing power plays.

Then Seabrook charged into Backes, who had his head down.

The Hawks were already down a man at the time of the hit and the ensuing 5-on-3 power play changed the momentum of the game. Seabrook said after the game, "I was just trying to make a play on Backes. I thought the puck was there, I was on [Alexander] Steen, I was just coming down the wall and I just tried to finish my hit."

The Hawks aren't in panic mode yet but they could be if they lose Game 3 at the United Center Monday night. Puck drops at 7:30 and a collective city will be holding its breath.