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First, this blog will recognize the courage and skill of the Nashville Predators. They took it to the Blackhawks, especially early in the first and third periods, and used their speed and talent to emerge victorious in a game 5 they had to win.
Pekka Rinne was mostly outstanding.
They kept their hopes alive and definitely sent a message to the Blackhawks: Games 6 (and Game 7 if necessary) will be a battle.
I'm not going to blame the officials or being on the road or injuries.
Nashville seemed to want the game more, and the Blackhawks have played better. Scott Darling was not terrible—but he's had better games in this series. The Hawk defense has had better games in this series. Niklas Hjalmarsson, in particular, had an off night in his own end.
Nashville definitely seemed to benefit from having Mike Fisher back, who looked none the worse from the injury that kept him out of Games 1-4.
On the bright side, Nashville has not won yet in Chicago, where the Hawks have won in their building. And the UC for the Hawks is, well, the UC.
But let's be clear, the last thing the Hawks want to do is board a jet Sunday morning for Nashville. They pretty much need to close this series out Saturday night, at home, on national television.
Under the bright lights at this time of year is when this team has always risen up and delivered.
To lose Saturday would put all the momentum—and home ice—back in Nashville's favor.
So, are there buttons yet to push for Joel Quenneville and his staff? ' The goalie question has to be asked.
Darling was good for much of Game 5, but he was shaky at times too and the Preds took advantage of it quickly and without remorse.
The Hawks have a $6.5 million a year goaltender. And Corey Crawford earned his name on the Stanley Cup two years ago. Don't get me wrong. I like Scott Darling and I believe he could be the Hawks' number one as early as next year.
But regardless of your offseason cap-related plans—that could include moving Crawford—you have to be able to have confidence that your #1 goalie can win at least one of the next two games.
Pivotal game in this series? Game 4 was. And Game 6 is. Because the team that wins Game 6 wins the series, in all likelihood. The Hawks are fortunate enough—some might argue that they created this luck for themselves—that the game is in their building.
I'll preview tomorrow.