In yesterday’s blog I wrote…

Game Two… the Chicago Blackhawks have been there, done that. They know that losing tonight reduces their chances to win this series to less than 13%. They know that tonight is a close to a must win that any non-elimination game can be.

OK… maybe they didn’t know those things and unless the Chicago Blackhawks are living under a rock, after last night’s 5-0 shellacking at the hands of the Nashville Predators, they should know it now.

I am shocked. More shocked than I was at the same time last year when the Preds came home from Anaheim up 2-0. This shouldn’t be happening. But it is. The Predators have a 2-0 lead in their first round series and return home with a chance to put an absolute stranglehold on this series and remove King Kong from their collective back.

The Predators got the first goal last night… and instead of being happy with that… they got another, and another and another… and one more for good measure, getting goals from Ryan Ellis, Harry Zolnierczyk, Colton… wait what? Harry freakin’ Zolnierczyk??? Yup… you know things are going your way when Harry Z beats Corey Crawford like a rented goalie… ahem… to continue… Colton Sissons, Ryan Johansen and Kevin Fiala, who put the final jellybean on the board.

As much fun as Pred Nation is having right now… it’s time to throw a big bucket of cold water on the party… 2-0 means nothing… nothing. We’ve seen this movie before… at the risk of sounding like a broken record… Chicago will be a very dangerous team Monday night… they will show the pride and talent and skill they have and Nashville will need to up their game again. But I will say this… Nashville completely took Chicago off their game with the physicality… these games were not given to the Predators (as much as the Chicago media would like you to believe) … they earned these two wins…

Let’s get to the good the bad and the ugly from last night…

The Good - Pekka… Pekka… Pekka… two games, two shutouts, two assists! Sheesh, he has more points than the entire Chicago Blackhawks team so far these playoffs.

The Bad - Nah… let’s talk about more good… Secondary scoring… Ellis, Sissons, Harry Z… which softened up the coverage on the JOFA line that led to Johansen’s goal… classic…

The Ugly - Wow… the United Center got ugly last night… I wonder how many fans were dragged out of there (couldn’t resist) … that place turned on the Hawks quick… they may be glad to get the hell out of Dodge…

2-0 means nothing… 2-0 means nothing… 2-0 means nothing…

That is the mantra that needs to be repeated… over and over again, until the series is over. Game three is tomorrow at 8:30pm at Bridgestone Arena.

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Playoff Status

Eastern Conference

Washington vs. Toronto – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 – tomorrow night in Totonto

Montreal vs. New York – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 – today in New York

Ottawa vs. Boston – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 – tomorrow in Boston

Pittsburgh vs. Columbus – PIT leads 2-0 – Game 3 – today in Columbus

Western Conference

Chicago vs. Nashville – NSH leads 2-0 – Game 3 tomorrow in Nashville

Anaheim vs. Calgary – ANA leads 2-0 – Game 3 – tomorrow in Calgary

Minnesota vs. St. Louis – STL leads 2-0 – Game 3 – today in St. Louis

Edmonton vs. San Jose – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 – today in San Jose

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Playoff Random Notes

- Pred Nation is invited out to welcome the team back… Noon at Signature Flight Support, 801 Hangar Lane at the airport.

- Hard to believe that Ryan Ellis’ goal last night was his first playoff goal.

- Ryan Johansen posted three points last night, 1g & 2a.

- The Toronto Maple Leafs grew up last night… big OT win in DC.

- Home teams went 2-2 last night.

- Four games in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs today, all times CST – 2pm - MIN @ STL (NBC). 5pm – PIT @ CBJ (CNBC). 6pm – MTL @ NYR (NBCSN). 9:30pm – EDM @ SJS (NBCSN).

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Tweets by @PredPAPaul


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