Backes, Blues Take Game 1, 1-0, In OT Against Blackhawks

Game 1 of a highly anticipated series in the Western Conference started tonight as the Chicago Blackhawks visited the St. Louis Blues.  Three of the Five games played in the regular season between these two teams went to overtime, so why shouldn't game one of the playoffs?  And in each of those three games, the Blues won, as was the case tonight in a 1-0, overtime loss.

The Hawks got 3 straight power plays, including a :36 portion of a 5-on-3, and they could not take advantage of the golden opportunity.  The Hawks outshot the Blues 11-4.  

The 2nd period started wide open with both teams with great chances early on, but both goalies stood tall.  Jonathan Toews had a partial breakaway and a 2-on-1 break, and Brian Elliott stopped him both times.  Corey Crawford threw some leather around as well by stopping Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrik Berglund.  St. Louis had the better chances in the period, but again, the game remained scoreless heading into the third period.

In the 3rd, the Blues came out hitting.  Michal Rozsival took a hard shoulder and would leave for the locker room 6 minutes into the period.  He would later return to the game.  Again, there was not much room, but the Hawks had the edge in chances in the period outshooting the Blues, 8-2.  Elliott seemed to have everyone's number tonight, who wound up with 35 saves in the game. 


But overtime seemed to be a given, and that is where it was headed.

You knew it was going to be a weird bounce that would win the game for one of the teams and it came from the Blues' Captain David Backes, as he tried to center a pass and it went off of Trevor van Riemsydk and squirted through Crawford for the only goal of the game. 

Notable Mentions: The Blackhawks were 0-for-5 on the power play although they had a couple of good scoring chances.  Niklas Hjalmarsson had a typical Hjammer night with 5 blocked shots and 28:11 TOI.

Three Stars Of The Game
1st - STL - David Backes ~ 1G
2nd - STL - Brian Elliott ~ 35 Saves, 1.000 SV%
3rd - CHI - Corey Crawford ~ 17 Saves, .944 SV%

Next Game: Friday, April 15th, Away, Vs. St. Louis Blues, 7PM CT

Blues lead best of 7 series, 1-0

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!