Patrick Kane Tames The Wild In The Third Period With Two Goals In 5-2 Victory

May 2, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) with the puck during the first period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Blackhawks and Wild were officially back at it again this time in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Wild wanted to show that they deserved this shot at the next level of the playoffs and they showed a big rush in the first half of the period that included a powerplay after another Andrew Shaw brain fart.  During the powerplay the Wild had a lot of possession and chances but the penalty kill and Corey Crawford were up to the task.  The Blackhawks would get their powerplay later in the period when Hossa took a high stick that drew blood and a 4 minute powerplay for the Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks almost gave up a shorthanded goal but  Leddy got back in the Nick of time to harass Zach Parise enough to not allow a goal and later in the sequence Brent Seabrook fired one from the point that Bryan Bickell tipped in for the 1-0 lead.  Patrick Kane had a few chances but came up just short of a goal and the feeling is he’s about to put some pucks in the net.  The Hawks out shot the wild 13-8 in the first period and lead on the scoreboard 1-0 at the first intermission.

Just like Game #6 against the St. Louis Blues, the visiting team Minnesota Wild dominated the 2nd period but the star of the period Corey Crawford. Crawford made all the save from big shots that got through to seeing the puck on deflections. The Blackhawks Penalty Kill which was average at best during the regular season has been fantastic in the beginning of the playoffs and was perfect in the 2nd period.  The Blackhawks had one powerplay and Marian Hossa picked up the goal, but the play was all Brandon Saad who skated through the offensive zone and set up Hossa with a tap in goal and a 2-0 lead.  The Blackhawks were out shot 17-3 in the second but out scored the Wild 1-0 in the period.  The bad news was spoken right before the period began which was the fact that Andrew Shaw wouldn’t be returning to the ice for the rest of the contest.

The third period had some serious fireworks with the Wild kicking off the festivities with a strange goal that looked like a Johnny Oduya huge save, but the replay went to Toronto and the puck clearly went in to cut the lead in half.  The 2nd goal all started with a very bad turnover by Brandon Bollig at center ice and the Wild just worked their butts off and in the end it paid off with a Kyle Brodziak game tying goal.  It looked very discouraging for the Blackhawks, but guess who decided to take over the game….none other than Blackhawks superman Patrick Kane.  Kane faked a drop pass to Patrick Sharp and beat most of the Wild team and he put a back hand shot to the top corner and a 3-2 lead.  8 minutes later he had a tap in goal after a pass from Patrick Sharp was deflected by Ben Smith and a 4-2 lead.  Bickell finished off the scoring with a empty net goal.

The real star of the show was Corey Crawford for the 2nd straight games, but the story will be Patrick Kane netting two goals with the first one being simply ridiculous.

Still no word yet on Andrew Shaw’s injury

Game #2 is Saturday afternoon at 2pm!!

Let’s Go Hawks!!!