UA-59049186-1 Lightning 5, Blackhawks 2 - Good if it Goes

Lightning 5, Blackhawks 2

Box score (Yahoo)

The Blackhawks got off to a very nice start and struck first when Jonathan Toews finished off a tic-tac-toe play. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Lightning would tie the game late in the period. Early in the second, the Hawks took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Duncan Keith. That would be the only goal of the period and the Hawks’ last of the game, as the third period would be all Lightning. Nikita Nesterov scored 2:47 into the third to tie the game. Just under three minutes later, Tyler Johnson gave the Lightning the lead. Thirty seconds after that, he pushed the lead to two. Nikita Kucherov added an empty netter.

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A few things

  • Michal Kempny had a really rough game coming off a rough game against the Canucks. I’ll be pretty surprised if he’s not a healthy scratch Thursday.
  • Scott Darling should be given the starting job for the time being. Corey Crawford had another terrible game; give the Lightning credit, but he’s gotta stop at least a couple of those. In 12 games since coming back from his appendectomy, Crawford has held the opposition under 3 goals only 4 times. Darling’s last 12 has seen just the opposite and includes a pair of shutouts. Darling is 5th in the league in save percentage and 7th in the league in GAA. I can understand wanting to give Crawford a chance to get back in his groove – when he’s on, he’s a truly elite goaltender. But the bottom line is: Scott Darling is playing good hockey and Corey Crawford isn’t. Give Darling the starting job.

My picks for 3 stars

★★★ Brian Boyle, C, TB (1 G, 1 A)

★★ Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (1 G, 1 A)

★ Tyler Johnson, C, TB (2 G (GWG))

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com

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