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Game 2 Hour And Minute Pool |
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Follow me @jaeckel
So what time (Eastern, let's say) does tonight's game end. The winner gets a shout out in the blog tomorrow.
I'll go with 11:14 PM.
Now, on to the more serious aspects of tonight's game. Maybe the biggest question is will Nathan Horton play for the Bruins?
My guess/feeling is no.
The question then becomes, really whether Horton sits or plays injured, should the Hawks flop their defensive matchups—and put Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the Krejci/Horton(Seguin)/Lucic line? Or stick with Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya there?
Hjalmarsson especially had some uncharacteristically rocky moments against the Bruins' top line Wednesday night. but he can and probably will do better. His mistakes were purely mental, and he doesn't make those very often.
It looks like Hawk winger Viktor Stalberg will not play tonight. It's hard to argue with leaving Brandon Bollig in the lineup—B52 brought what you want from him Wednesday, energy, solid positional play and 9 hits (many of them the kind that leave marks).
Pittsburgh's own Brandon Saad will likely skate some on the top line with newly-minted Selke Trophy winner Jonathan Toews (congrats JT!) and Marian Hossa. Saad's play has been trending up the last few games, culminating in a goal Wednesday night.
The Bruins have to find a way to slow down the Hawks' third line. While it's doubtful the Shaw/Bolland/Bickell (Saad) will tally three goals again tonight, Shaw in particular was a thorn in the side of the Bruins, also registering nine hits and drawing a key penalty.
If the Hawks get another game like they did from Corey Crawford, at the very least, they should be in this one 'til the end. I won't say Crawford outplayed Tuuka Rask—because he didn't. But he gave the Hawks enough to win. And he was at times brilliant, while facing a few less shots than Rask did.
Can't wait for this puck drop.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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