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In the playoffs, every game is huge.
In the Blackhawks' second round series against the Wild, now tied at 2-2, Game 5 is a bit extra huge.
The Hawks not only dropped both games 3 and4 in St. Paul, they were fairly soundly beaten in both games. Certainly some of that is attributable to playing on the road in a tough building against a proven good team. But some of it has to have the Hawks and their fans wondering if this series isn't going to be a fight to the death now—and one the Hawks could easily lose.
Pretty clearly, the first team to lose on home ice is probably going to lose this series. You can also fairly strongly argue that the winner of Game 5, then, is in the driver's seat for an eventual series win on home ice.
There's been a lot of debate about who the fringe players should be in the lineup for the Hawks from game to game, but the bottom line is the Hawks need some energy and willingness to win battles. In games 3 and 4, Chicago was beaten along the boards and getting to pucks.
Corey Crawford needs to be better as well. Crawford got better, certainly as the St. Louis series wore on, and any time he wants to bring his A Game back to the ice would be just fine for the Hawks.
I'll be back with e detailed Game 5 preview tomorrow. Until then,
Thanks for reading,
JJ