Western Conference Quarterfinal Game 2
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks Nashville leads series 1-0 7PM Central NBC
GOALIES: Pekka Rinne/Nashville Corey Crawford/Chicago
NOTES: It can be argued Nashville coach Peter Laviolette got the better of Joel Quenneville in Game 1, or perhaps a Hawk team that wasn’t fully prepared for the intensity of playoff hockey. Regardless, if there was any good news in the game 1 loss for Chicago, it was that the Hawks caught on quickly and played hard the latter two periods.
Quenneville has adjusted his lines and perhaps his approach for Game 2:
Hartman-Toews-Panik Panarin-Anisimov-kane Schmaltz-Kruger-Hossa Rasmussen-Kero-Tootoo
Ryan Hartman and Nick Schmaltz trade spots, likely with an eye toward adding some snarl and physicality to Jonathan Toews’ line. Dennis Rasmussen, whose game is all grind, joins Tanner Kero and Jordin Tootoo on the new fourth line. Both Tootoo and Kero played well in Game 1.
I will recap tomorrow.
JJ