For the first 2 periods of last nights game 5 with Chicago, the Blackhawks dominated yet in the blink of an eye they went from ripping apart the Bruins to fighting for their life with just a 1 goal lead.
The Bruins fell 2-1 to the Hawks last night (not including an empty netter late in the 3rd) yet for the entire first period, the Bruins were literally doing everything that they hadn't done in game 4. Fore-checking, back-checking, really every kind of checking and you know what it was working. 11-8 in shots in favor of Boston, hit after hit against Chicago and once again quite a few vital saves for Tuukka Rask were all glorious facets of a pretty acceptable first period for Boston, that is until Patrick Kane did what he does best.
With 2:34 left in the first, Johnney Oduya of the Hawks caught Kane riding towards the front of the Boston net. Looking for a rebound, Oduya blasted the shot on nets right as Dennis Sidenberg for the Bruins dove in front looking to block the shot. Not getting all of it, Sidenberg only slowed it down fooling Rask and preventing him from freezing the puck all with Kane literally breathing down his neck. With just 2:33 left in the first, the Blackhawks were up by one, but nevertheless while Chicago did have the lead, anyone who has watched this series so far couldn't help but think, "yeah the Bruins could come back."
But regardless of that, just 5 minutes into the following 2nd period, that deficit that the Bruins would have to erase would end up getting doubled by yet another Patrick Kane dart. With 5:13 elapsed in the 2nd frame, and the Bruins pressing for an equalizing goal, a marginal 3 on 2 developed up ice all as Nathan Horton fought to get back into position. Brian Bickell delivered the shot pass right to the stick of Johnathon Toews who's ensuing shot was padded away by Rask. Rotating around the back of the net, Toews slid it back to the front of the net where mighty Kane smacked it home for his second of the game and 3rd goal in 2 games.
Nevertheless, the Bruins had crawled out of 2 goal holes before, (they did it twice in Game 4 to send it to OT) so like the attitude at the conclusion of the first period, when Chicago got out of the second frame still up by two, Bruins fans watching last nights game neglected to let go of their hollow insistence of "yeah the bruins can STILL come back."
Nevertheless, when it was pointed out by Piere McGuire that Patrice Bergeron had not played since a very short shift in the second period, your heart sank. The Bruins were now without Mr Money himself yet as has been true all playoff long when the star goes down all that does is showcase Boston's insane
depth offensively.
With the game clock reading 16:27 to go in the third period, and with Zdeno Chara working the blue line the rebound of a great shot by the Bruin captain was picked up and played by David Krejci via a mighty saucer pass back to Chara who easily wristed in under the crossbar of the Chicago net.
The Bruins had scored and as time winded down an aura of pressure began to radiate out of Boston's beloved hockey team yet as they rifled shot after shot on Crawford and none went in you could since that the Bruins were beginning to panic. Regardless, the Bruins came just inches away from tying the game with mere minutes left on the clock. After an easy takeaway at center, Brad Marchand of the Bruins forcefully took control of the blue line an accelerated his line into a threatening 3 on 3 rush on Crawford. With Jager on his right Marchand slid the puck to the 41 year old future hall of famer who fired the shot on goal only to be blocked by a diving Brandon Saud. 2:33 left in the game and with the puck dribbling back towards the Chicago goal, Danial Pallie, scorer of 2 game winning goals already in this series, swung frantically at the puck only to have his potential tying goal blocked by the right pad of Cory Crawford.
In the span of just 2 games the Bruins went from harboring a chance to take a 3-1 series lead to, after two consecutive losses finding themselves now just 1 loss away from being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Finals.
In just over a day, the Bruins and Blackhawks will begin game six each team harboring one simple intention. For Chicago: win the game therefor winning the cup. For the Bruins: don't let that happen.
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