The deed was done Thursday night, as the unstoppable Chicago Blackhawks completed the sweep of Devan Dubnyk's Minnesota Wild. To be honest, I thought Minnesota would do a lot better than they did, considering how well Dubnyk played in round one. I do believe we saw Dubnyk regress in this series, a key factor of why it was so easy for Chicago. Another big factor was how well Chicago's top players played, when they're on their game, Chicago is virtually unbeatable. Something to note about this series, is Chicago D-man Michal Roszival went down with an ankle injury, and will miss the rest of the playoffs. With that the Hawks lost a good veteran presence back there, and I believe they will now be forced to turn to David Rundblad. A minor setback, as I believe Chicago will continue to be a force to be reckoned with against the Ducks or Flames.
GAME 1 - MIN 3, CHI 4 (FINAL)
Game 1 was a strange game for both teams, as it started relatively quick with Brandon Saad scoring 1:15 in to make it 1-0. That was followed by goals from Patrick Kane and Marcus Kruger, to make it 3-0 Hawks after the first 20. Minnesota responded extremely well in the 2nd, as Jason Zucker scored 1:21 in. A power play strike from Parise and a goal from Granlund equalized the game at 3! What an effort by Minnesota! Though those Hawks never back down, and who else but the kid Teuvo Teravainen to score with 59 seconds remaining in the 2nd, to make it 4-3. The score would hold through the 3rd, and the Hawks captured game 1. I think both teams were good, Chicago's start was the main reason they won this game, and the Wild were outstanding to get back into it, and the only thing that separated these teams was one lucky goal.
GAME 2 - MIN 1, CHI 4 (FINAL)
The Hawks did not take their foot off the gas pedal in game 2, as they put together a solid 4-1 defeat. After a scoreless first, Jonathan Toews netted a shorty past Dubnyk halfway through the second, to put the Hawks up 1-0. Then, with 20 seconds to go in the frame, a great pass from Duncan Keith led to a partial break for Patty Kane, and he ripped it by Dubnyk to put the Hawks up 2 at the break. Minnesota responded 1:20 into the 3rd, as Matt Dumba scored his first career playoff goal on the PP, but Sharps goal several minutes later and Kane's empty netter sealed the victory for Chicago. Minnesota played a great game overall, but were thwarted by the excellent play of Hawks goalie Corey Crawford. A couple goals from Kane gave him already 3 in the series, through just 2 games.
GAME 3 - CHI 1, MIN 0 (FINAL)
This game was ALL Crawford. Who else but showtime Patrick Kane netted his 6th of the postseason on the PP with around 6 to go in the 1st, and that was the lone goal that stood, as the rest of the game was the Crawford show. He stopped all 30 shots for his first shutout of the postseason, en route to the 3-0 stranglehold lead the Hawks had now put together.
GAME 4 - CHI 4, MIN 3 (FINAL)
With the Wild on the ropes, the Hawks refused to hold back. Brent Seabrook put one by Dubnyk halfway through the 1st, to give the Hawks the first goal of the game in every single matchup. Andrew Shaw's PP goal in the second made it 2-0, but shortly after Minnesota's injury replacement Erik Haula put one by the brickwall Crawford, to put Minny within 1. Into the 3rd, things looked close up until Kane continued to dominate, scoring with just under 7 to go, putting the Hawks up 3-1. The Wild opted to pull their goalie shortly after when they were awarded a PP, but Marian Hossa hit the net to make it 4-1 with 4 minutes to go. Here's where you have to give the Wild credit for battling back, as on that same PP Jason Pominville scored his 3rd of the playoffs, followed by a goal from "El Nino" Nino Neiderreiter to put the home team back within 1! It was not enough, as the Hawks found their way by, completing the sweep.
The big reason Chicago controlled this series was their all-stars coming to play, including goalie Corey Crawford, who rebounded ever so nicely from round 1. Minnesota put up a fight in pretty much every game, so you have to give them some credit, but I believe Dubnyk DID regress and that was they key reason the Wild were dealt with so easily.
Please leave comments and opinions, I'd love to hear.
~UWNHL TEAM
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