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The Blackhawks saved their best game (thus far at least) of the Stanley Cup Finals for Game 5. And their timing couldn't have been better.
It was yet another one-goal game, close, and yet the ice no longer felt tilted toward Tampa, as it had through much of games 1-4. To the contrary, when crunch time came in the third period, it was the Blackhawks keeping the Lightning bottled up in their end, with line after line applying a stiff forecheck.
Without question, the game was impacted by the injury to Tampa winger Nikita Kucherov. His presence has been a continual thorn in the side of the Hawks. His absence renders the Triplets a wounded pair of Twine.
That said, injuries are a fact of life at this time of year, and no excuse. The oft-repeated narrative of Chicago's "insane" reliance on its top 4 was brought about by the injury to Michal Rozsival in the second round. Johnny Oduya is playing hurt, as likely is Niklas Hjalmarsson and possibly Marcus Kruger.
And what about Hjalmarsson?
Can we finally elevate him to the Blackhawk Pantheon of big game players? As if his heroism throughout the 2013 playoffs wasn't enough.
Viktor Hedman is a great player, who does things offensively that aren't in Hjalmarsson's repertoire, but the best pure defender on the ice last night, and most nights, was Hjalmarsson: lifting sticks, blocking shots, winning pucks.
It was all the help Corey Crawford needed, because he was dialed in yet again, battling throughout.
If the Blackhawks win this series and the Cup Monday night, it's very possible that this will be the first time that the "supporting cast," and not Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were the real stars. When Kane and Duncan Keith (especially) struggled last night, the lesser lights came up big.
Crawford. Hjalmarsson. Shaw. Kruger. Vermette. Versteeeg.
Versteeg, whose energy and smart plays have helped turn the tide of this series. Vermette, with a sick faceoff percentage and another game-winning goal last night. Crawford, who's imposed his will on the Lightning the last two games.
Marian Hossa is no longer the offensive force he once was, but his two-way game remains a marvel night after night as it was in Game 5.
Victory is far from guaranteed Monday night in Chicago, when the Hawks will get the first chance to win the Cup on home ice in decades. Tampa is coming to play and win. Don't doubt that.
That said, Joel Quenneville has the Hawks firing on all cylinders—at least all the cylinders left skating. The odd-man breaks are coming now, as they did in the latter games of the Western Conference Final. All four lines are contributing and dangerous. Crawford is dialed in.
And it's Chicago.
And it's the Cup.
It will be fun.
All for now,
JJ