Chicago
enters the series as the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the
Stanley Cup starts out by facing our favorite team, the Minnesota Wild. All
stats favor Chicago yet the Stanley Cup playoffs can bring some big upsets.
Will we see Minnesota steal Game 1 on the road?
The pregame
injury to Backstrom and the insertion of Josh Harding would this be the boost
the Wild need?
What does
Minnesota sports teams do to deserve this fate? The Vikings enter the playoffs
and lose Ponder only to see Joe Webb get the start after sitting on the bench
all year. Tonight Backstrom gets hurt and in comes Harding.
I dislike the
Black Hawks but I sure enjoy the way the National Anthem is sung. If that does
not bring chills before a big game, what will?
The game
ended as we know in an overtime loss. It might be easy to get negative because
a loss and now down 1-0.
I am totally
encouraged after this performance that this series will go more than 4. The
play of Harding in nets was awesome. A game 1 on the road with a last minute
call and he stops 35 shots for almost a 95 percent save percentage. I know we
lost but without the way he played the Black Hawks could easily got 5-6 goals.
Way to go Josh!!!!!
How many
times were the Black Hawks off sides tonight? The look of frustration on their faces was
rather enjoyable with this over confident group of Black Hawks each time the
whistle blew.
The Wild defense
played the game of their lives blocking over 20 shots. It was so nice to see
the team effort and the desire to see a team do whatever it took to get the job
done.
I know there
is not a game MVP in a loss but if there was my vote goes to Jason Zucker. The
penalties he drew as he used his speed. The shot off the goal post was millimeters
from going in and ending it. A guy that gets sent up and down from Houston to
Minnesota sure played the game of his life.
The amount
of odd man rushes the Wild got tonight is something to build on for game 2
knowing they can beat the Black Hawk defensemen.
The play of
the 4th line with Rupp, Konopka and Mitchell was unbelievable. These
guys looked like they wanted to be the number 1 line.
I was a
little nervous coming into game 1 that a blowout may occur but the way the Wild
fought I fully believe this series can go and will go 7.
A win Friday
by the Wild heading back to Minnesota for the next 2 games would really set up
a series that the Black Hawks don’t win.
LA Kings,
2012 number 8 seed won the Cup. It can happen and it will if the Wild can play
a game like they did tonight.
I truly
believe the Black Hawks are sitting in their locker room thinking how lucky
they got. Black Hawks goalie, Crawford gave up way to many big rebounds.
I believe
since it is a series the Wild can look at the game tape and see what they can
do different.
My hope is
the team starts shooting more instead of looking for the perfect pass. We had
the Black Hawks on the rope and let them get off.
Chicago you
will not get so lucky next time.
I can’t wait
for Friday!!!!!!!!! Go Wild!!!!
Thanks for
reading
Purplestick
No comments:
Post a Comment