sportsPond53: Blackhawks Playoffs

Here we go! The 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs begin, and it's a brand new season altogether. Our President's Trophy-winning team faces the Minnesota Wild in Round 1, in a match-up that wasn't decided until the very last games for the Red Wings, Wild, and Blue Jackets. All three were battling for their playoff lives and for seed positioning.

For the sake of posterity, I collated the ESPN ScoreCenter box summary and the NHL recaps, box scores and highlights for each of the Blackhawks games. The NHL game-by-game is hyperlinked to the subheadings.

Game 1 (April 30th 2013)

The Blackhawks are not at their playoff best in this series opener, and are too tense at times and over-eager at other times. The Wild keep their firepower in check, and the game goes into overtime, knotted at 1 - 1. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom suffers a pregame injury, and backup Josh Harding comes on net, who plays an inspired game which the Blackhawks have difficulty solving.

ESPN ScoreCenter

The starting skaters line up for the singing of the national anthem (image credit)

Marian Hossa celebrates after his power play goal, in the 2nd period, ties up the game at 1 - 1 (image credit)

After a big hit by Andrew Shaw, Johnny Oduya sends a rink-length pass to Viktor Stalberg (image credit)

Viktor Stalberg speeds into the Wild zone with the rink-length pass from Johnny Oduya (image credit)

Bryan Bickell positions himself perfectly to take the well-timed pass from Viktor Stalberg (image credit)

Bryan Bickell scores the game-winner in overtime, and is lost in the celebration melee (image credit)

Blackhawks take the series opener for a 1 - 0 lead.

Game 2 (May 3rd 2013)

In the Blackhawks Fans community on Google+, I mention, in a real-time post, that the Bruins and the Penguins are whaling on their opponents in their series openers: 4 - 1 and 5 - 0, respectively. So, after a tight first game, I offer the wish that our team has a similarly dominant game, coming up. In fact, they do, as Michael Frolik and Patrick Sharp each flirt with a hat trick.

ESPN ScoreCenter

Michael Frolik scores twice, and helps to keep the Blackhawks well in control (image credit)

Patrick Sharp celebrates his second goal, while Patrick Kane cheers "That's hockey, baby!" (image credit)

Patrick Kane rushes up ice, and sets up a Patrick Sharp goal with a nifty forehand spin-o-rama (image credit)

Corey Crawford plays another stellar game on net, frustrating the Wild scorers (image credit)

Joel Quenneville and his team wear their deadpan game faces, which will not make the cover of GQ (image credit)

Blackhawk fans wave their red towels, and are present in large numbers on the road with the team (image credit)

Blackhawks take a 2 - 0 series lead, after this commanding victory

Game 3 (May 5th 2013)

Wild coach Mike Yeo feels that his team has been too easy on his counterpart's team, and promises a more physical home game at the Xcel Energy Center. His players definitely manhandle the Blackhawks with a lot of heavy hits; wear them down and, worse, rattle them off their game. Were it not for Corey Crawford's brick-wall performance, the Wild would have reciprocated the Blackhawks' dominant Game 2 with a 5 - 2 victory of their own. As it were, they win it early in OT, after losing their 2 - 1 lead, late in the 3rd period.

ESPN ScoreCenter

Wild come out laying heavy hits on the Blackhawks, and Patrick Kane is one recipient (image credit)

Corey Crawford is, and has to be, magnificent, as his teammates turn the puck over repeatedly (image credit)

Johnny Oduya skates off, after his goal is "first blood" drawn in a physical game (image credit)

Blackhawks are out-hit 34 - 14, as Marian Hossa jockeys hard for position beside the net (image credit)

Duncan Keith scores a tying goal late in regulation, after the Wild's "prevent defense" backfires (image credit)

There aren't enough accolades for Corey Crawford, and this loss is definitely not on him (image credit)

Wild hold home ice, and halve the Blackhawks series lead to 2 - 1.

Game 4 (May 7th 2013)

Nervousness filters among fans, as we wonder, Have the Wild found the winning formula to beat the mighty Blackhawks? Not to worry, coach Joel Quenneville steadies the ship, and girds the team's under-rated mental toughness under pressure. The Blackhawks are still out-hit 20 - 10, but play a very solid game on all facets of the ice: offense, defense, and special teams. A rare mental lapse by Corey Crawford led to that overtime Wild goal in Game 3, but nails down a well-deserved shutout in this game.

ESPN ScoreCenter

The Wild keep on hitting, and Brent Seabrook is sent airborne to the glass (image credit)

The hits keep coming, and Johnny Oduya is the giver this time (image credit)

Marian Hossa is elated, after Patrick Sharp deflects a Michal Handzus shot for a goal (image credit)

Duncan Keith clears the puck, and helps to nail down Corey Crawford's shutout (image credit)

Captain Jonathan Toews has several near-misses, and is held pointless through Game 4 (image credit)

Bryan Bickell and Corey Crawford, two of the game's stars, congratulate each other (image credit)

Blackhawks are now one win away from advancing, after taking a 3 - 1 series lead.

Game 5 (May 9th 2013)

More desperate than ever, the Wild come out aggressive, and find several golden opportunities to get the puck past Corey Crawford. But despite dominating the 1st period, they go into intermission down 1 - 0. The Blackhawks erupt for three goals in the 2nd period, and there is no questioning which was the better team. Jonathan Toews gets on the points board with two assists, and Corey Crawford closes the series with amazing numbers: 1.32 goals-against-average, and 95% save of the shots-on-goal.