Chicago Blackhawks Blow Two-Goal Lead, Fall Into 3-0 Hole Vs. Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks will be required to win their next four games if they want to remain in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after an overtime defeat Monday

Through 40 minutes of Monday’s Game 3 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators, it looked as though the Western Conference’s top seed would get its first win of the postseason after scoring its first two goals.

Almost two full periods later, the Blackhawks saw themselves down 3-0 in their first-round series, as the Predators scored twice in the third frame and once in overtime to grab a 3-2 victory.

While the Blackhawks finally dented the twine, they got punted up and down the ice most of the night. After watching them struggle to hold the puck in Game 2, it actually got worse in Game 3 despite the team not being shut out yet again.

Numbers and notes from Game 3

Dennis Rasmussen managed to shove a goal home early in the second period to break the Blackhawks’ serious scoring schnide. Patrick Kane would follow with a powerplay snipe from the circle at Pekka Rinne‘s left to put Chicago ahead 2-0.

Chicago Blackhawks

But those were pretty much the only high points for the Blackhawks. Two extremely fluky goals for the Preds had the game tied with less than six minutes to play in regulation, and the Blackhawks were getting mostly run over in the extra period.

The final stats show the Blackhawks being outshot 49-36, losing the Corsi-for battle 63 to 37 percent and falling in the faceoff battle 58 to 42 percent. They looked exhausted an overwhelmed throughout the game, relying on Corey Crawford to make save after save in clutch situations.

But he couldn’t come up with enough saves. The puck bouncing off the end boards right to Crow’s skates was a bad break and resulted in a goal against. He came out to challenge a point shot later in the third period, was contacted by a Predator and had the puck go by him for the tying tally.

And then Kevin Fiala eased past Johnny Oduya and managed to drag a puck around Crow late in overtime after the goaltender made a great toe save on Fiala not long before.

What’s next?

Well, the Blackhawks get two games off. This could be a good thing, I guess, as they clearly need some time to come up with a strategy that isn’t them failing miserably.

But they’re going to need an extraordinarily better effort in Game 4 to keep this series going. The Preds are the livelier team, winning all the board battles and working for all their chances. The Blackhawks seem to be sitting back and waiting for everything to come to them, and very little is coming to them.

Next: 5 Reasons Blackhawks Can Beat Predators

We’ll have five thoughts from this game and three keys to the Blackhawks winning Game 4 coming up Tuesday. Be on the lookout for that and more ahead of the Blackhawks’ next, and possibly final, postseason game of 2017.