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Clearly, tonight's game is a big one. As I blogged yesterday, the winner of tonight's game either definitely (duh) or in all likelihood advances to round 2.
The winner of tonight's game is probably the better team and more deserving of a series win. The games have been too close, with the exception of a couple of very lop-sided periods in Nashville's favor, to say otherwise.
Joel Quenneville has opted (apparently) to follow the prescription that led to wins on home ice in games 3 and 4: Scott Darling in net and the following lines.
Saad Toews Hossa versteeg Richards Kane Bickell Vermette Sharp Desjardins Kruger Shaw
Although as anyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows, that's subject to change quickly.
Assume the defense is some combination of keith, Seabrook, Rozsival, Hjalmarsson, Oduya and Timonen.
for the Hawks, the prescription is fairly simplpe: play their best 200 foot playoff games, forecheck and backcheck like they can, look for opportunities off those turnovers, and if Nashville overcommits offensively—look for the stretch pass.
Should be a good one. Game is on NBC at 7 Central.
I'll recap tomorrow.
JJ