The Boston Bruins evened up the Stanley Cup Finals with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2, in Chicago. It took overtime again to decide the game, but this time it was just one overtime. At 13:48 into overtime, the Bruins’ Daniel Paille scored the game winner, his 3rd goal of the playoffs.
It took a while for Boston to get going in this game. They were outshot 19-4 in the first period, but only trailed 1-0, thanks to their goalie, Tuukka Rask. He turned back a barrage of shots on a few occasions to keep his team close. The Blackhawks’ Patrick Sharp started off the scoring 11:22 into the game, his 9th goal of the playoffs. Sharp is tied with the Bruins’ David Krejci for the most goals in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston seemed to wake up in the second period. Maybe they got a stern talking to by coach, Claude Julien after the first period. Well if so, it worked. The Bruins had 8 shots in each of the next 3 periods, and the Blackhawks never had more than 6 in a period, after the dominating 19 shot first period. The Bruins’ Chris Kelly tied the game at 1, 14:58 into the second period. This goal turned out to be the last score in regulation.
Overtime started with the Bruins pushing the action. However, the Blackhawks’ goalie Corey Crawford was also up to the challenge. With only a total of 2 goals in regulation, this game looked as if it might have an hour or two remaining, until Paille ended it. Boston outhit Chicago 50-34, which might explain why the Bruins seemed to gain strength in comparison to the Blackhawks as the game went on.
The Stanley Cup Finals continues on Monday night, but moves to Boston for the next 2 games. The Bruins have now taken home-ice advantage, by winning one of the two games in Chicago. The Blackhawks have to be more than a little bit concerned, after dominating early in the game, and ending up with a loss. While Crawford has been very good in goal for the Blackhawks, Rask has been even better for the Bruins. Chicago’s stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will have to step up their game in Boston, or they could be in deep trouble when they return to Chicago for Game 5.
If Boston’s top line of Krejci, Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton catch fire at home, without Toews and Kane matching them, the Bruins could go back to Chicago with a 3 games to 1 lead. Even so, I see this series going at least 6 games. These teams are evenly matched, so I definitely don’t see either team winning the next 3 games. Sharp has been great in the playoffs, but he needs more scoring help, for the Blackhawks to beat the Bruins.
Who knows? Maybe The Stanley Cup Finals will end up with 7 overtime games. While that is highly unlikely, so far we have 2 down, and 5 to go. That would be just fine with me. Bring it on!
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Sports With Frank Thomas
