Hawks Put a Great Ending to an Exciting Series

Written by: EricC on 27th April 2010

After a very exciting Game 5, the Chicago Blackhawks were in a position to knock the Nashville Predators out and Clinch Round 1. Minus the first period, Game 6 wasn’t quite as exciting, but the important thing is that Chicago ended up pulling out the win! It’s a good thing Marian Hossa did not face a suspension, because he ended up having three assists in this final game. Now the Hawks are on to face the Vancouver Canucks; the same team they faced, and knocked out, in Round 2 of last year’s post season.

Just about all the game’s goals came in the first period, making it an exciting, and nerve wrecking, time. About six and a half minutes into the game, Duncan Keith scored his first goal of the Post Season. However, Nashville tied things up about two minutes later. Patrick Kane responded a minute later with another leading goal, taking an assist from Brent Seabrook, followed by a third Chicago goal, put in by Patrick Sharp. Leading 3-1, the Hawks were riding pretty high.

Despite trailing by two goals, the Predators refused to just lay down and accept elimination. In the 15th minute, Nashville put in a Power Play goal, followed by a tying goal in the final minute of the period. It appeared that the Preds had stolen the momentum, until the final 31 seconds of the period when Jonathan Toews scored a final goal to put Chicago back on top.

Despite the high scoring period, no more goals were scored throughout the game until John Madden sealed the victory with an Empty Netter in the final eight seconds of play. Thanks to 10 minutes of Power Play and Chicago’s defense, the Preds only got four shots in the second period; Antti Niemi really went to work in the third period, making 15 crucial saves, with the Hawks being Short Handed for six of the minutes, nearly back to back.

Niemi has now recorded four NHL Playoff Wins, two of which were Shut Outs, and a Series Win! The young goalie had 25 saves in the Big Win!

Chicago already knows they will be playing the Vancouver Canucks in the next round, but a schedule has not been released, yet. However, due to higher seeding, the Hawks know their first two games will be in Chicago.