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The NHL Playoffs are back, and got off to an amazing start last night. The game between between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators showed us why we all love playoff hockey so much.
Nashville got off to a quick start on home ice at the Bridgestone Arena. The Predators dominated the first period and chased Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford from the game after letting in his third goal. Ex-Hawk Viktor Stalberg, and two from Colin Wilson, put the Predators up 3-0 after the opening frame.
The Blackhawks switched goalies to start the second period, and backup Scott Darling kept the Blackhawks alive.
Darling made 42 saves in a row, as the Hawks slowly crept back into the game. By the end of the second period the Blackhawks tied the game, after goals from Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Sharp, and Jonathan Towes.
Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane made his return for his first time since Feb. 24.
“I felt a little rusty,” Kane said. “It’s nothing I didn’t really expect after some time off and coming back for the first playoff game. It was good for me to get a game under my belt, even better that we got the win. Hopefully I just keep improving and getting better and better.”
Scott Darling played out of his mind from the third period on. Darling made two highlight-reel saves in the third period to extend the game to overtime. Each team had one power-play opportunity in the first overtime but was unable to convert.
Darling set an NHL playoff record last night, playing the most time (67:44) in a relief appearance without allowing a goal.
The dagger came at the 7:49, as Duncan Keith blasted a slapshot from the blue line through traffic, that snuck by Pekke Rinne.
“I can’t really remember exactly what happened,” Keith said. “I just know that (Marian Hossa) had a nice bank pass to get it back to me. I just tried to get it on net as quick as I could. I don’t know if the goalie was able to see it very well. I think we had some guys going to the net, and that helped out on the screen.”
The goal gives the Blackhawks a 1-0 series lead before Game 2 Friday night.
It will be interesting to see if Hawks coach Joe Quenneville sticks with Corey Crawford or goes with Darling for Game 2. Either way this loss was demoralizing for the Predators, who have their backs against the wall early in the series.
Video Credit: NHL/Youtube