Usual suspects give Chicago a 2-0 series lead on Minnesota
The Chicago Blackhawks gave up a big lead in Game 1. They weren't going to allow that to happen again in Game 2.
After a scoreless first period, the Blackhawks found themselves on the penalty kill midway through the second. Marian Hossa swiped the puck from Ryan Suter along the boards and found Jonathan Toews streaking in to the Minnesota zone. He sent a shorthanded goal past Devan Dubnyk putting the 'Hawks up 1-0.
With 20-seconds to go in the second, Patrick Kane recorded his 100th playoff point in his 101st playoff game. Shortly after Kane's goal, Michal Rozsival was whistled for interference with 2-seconds remaining in the period.
The penalty carried over into the third and Minnesota took advantage. On a pass from Suter, Matt Dubnyk skated the puck into the Chicago zone and fired a laser of a wrist shot into the back of the net.
Shades of Game 1 coming back to haunt the Blackhawks? Eh, not so much.
Jordan Leopold passed the puck to Dumba as he skated into the neutral zone. The puck bounced off Dumba's stick and right to Teuvo Teravainen who promptly sent it over to Patrick Sharp. Almost effortlessly, Sharp sent the puck past Dubnyk on his glove side.
Later in the third, Chicago goalie Corey Crawford took a Marco Scandella slapshot to the melon.
Clearly, Crawford was dazed AND confused after the event. So, naturally the Chicago training staff pulled him out of the game and immediately implemented the NHL's concussion protocol on him...
Haha, no! Of course not! That would be the logical thing to do, and we all know logical isn't a strong suit of the league. Crawford changed his mask and went right back out on the ice.
After the game, Coach Quenneville spoke to Crawford's status, via the Chicago Sun Times, “He was fine [after Scandella’s shot], and he’s fine [afterwards]."
Whatever you say, Coach Q.
Crawford was "fine" enough to finish the game. Kane sealed the 4-1 victory with with his 101st career playoff point via an empty netter.
The Blackhawks now lead the series 2-0 as it heads to Minnesota.
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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.
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