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Yeah, Bryan Bickell scored the game winner for the Hawks in OT of Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal. But it was the relentless speed of Viktor Stalberg—not to mention a pretty sweet dish right on Bickell's tape—that made it all possible.
As OT wore on, I kept thinking the Hawks were going to get the game winner sooner or later—and it really seemed like it was going to be Michal Frolik or Stalberg who would make it happen. As older, slower players got tired and lethargic, those two were still charging and the chances started piling up for the Hawks.
And that is again about the Hawks' depth—they just have so many weapons and ways to beat you.
Full marks to the Wild and goalie Josh Harding—they played a near perfect road game. But after a tentative first period, lowlighted by a squeezably soft goal given up by Corey Crawford, the Hawks started to really find their game in the second period. Patrick Kane made an unreal top-speed pass through the legs of multiple Wild defenders onto Marian Hossa's tape—tie game 1-1.
The Hawks were not perfect but good enough to force Harding—with a lot of help from the Wild defense—to stand on his head at times especially during a couple of flurries late in regulation.
Crawford, after the early softie, was very strong, and really redeemed himself with a number of strong saves.
Another player who redeemed himself a bit last night was defenseman Johnny Oduya. The Pizza Man had a rocky moment here and there, but overall was very good moving the puck up ice and made a brilliant stretch pass off the boards to Stalberg on the game winner.
And while I don't know if this big question is answered yet, the Hawks came out hitting and hitting hard, taking the hit count 40-36 for the game, and many of them meaningful hits.
The Wild's best player last night, defenseman Ryan Suter, was forced to play over 41 minutes, 31+ in regulation, an unsustainable amount over the course of a long series.
In this game, the Wild gave the Hawks more than enough trouble, and certainly the Hawks can't let up. But it can also be argued the Hawks might have taken the Wild's best punch.
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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