Western Conference Round 1, Game 6 – Blackhawks 4, Predators 3, Blackhawks Win Series 4-2

After a disappointing game 5 in Nashville, the Hawks were back on home ice Saturday, with another chance to close out the Predators. The Predators scored first, 1:10 into the game on a goal by James Neal. The Predators also got the game’s first power play when Kimmo Timonen was sent off for holding 6:52 in. The Predators converted 8:09 into the period on a James Neal redirect. The Hawks finally decided to show up 10:37 into the period when Patrick Sharp scored off a rebound given up by Pekka Rinne to cut the Nashville lead to 1. Nashville put the lead back to 2 11:12 into the period on a goal by Matt Cullen. After the Cullen goal, Corey Crawford came in to replace Scott Darling. The Hawks would get a power play 12:09 into the period when James Neal was sent off for cross-checking. The Hawks scored five seconds into the man advantage when Jonathan Toews redirected a shot from Sharp past Rinne. The Hawks would head to the penalty kill 15:15 in after Marian Hossa was sent off for hooking. The Hawks would be able to kill off the penalty. The Hawks tied the game with six seconds left in the period when Patrick Kane scored on a one-timer off a face-off. After twenty, the teams were tied at 3.

The Hawks controlled the action early in the third until Brad Richards was sent off for tripping 8:55 into the period. The Hawks would be able to kill off the penalty. Though the Hawks would get some great chances in the second, they would be unable to score, as would the Predators. After two, the teams remained tied at 3.

Early in the third, we saw back-and-forth action by the two teams. The Hawks would get a power play just under nine minutes in after Victor Bartley was sent off for hooking. The Hawks would come up empty on the man advantage. With 3:48 to play in regulation, Duncan Keith scored to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 4-3. With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Predators pulled Rinne for the extra attacker. The Hawks would prevent the Predators from tying the game and come away with the 4-3 win in the game, and the 4-2 win in the series.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (1 G, 2 A)

★★ James Neal, LW, NSH (2 G)

★ Duncan Keith, D, CHI (1 G (GWG), 2 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com

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