Blackhawks Take 2-0 Series Lead in NHL Playoffs
In Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks bolted to a 3-0 lead and never looked back as they took a 2-0 series lead over the San Jose Sharks Tuesday.
With Dustin Byfuglien scoring a goal for the second straight game and Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews knotting two points each, the Sharks failed to find an answer for the Blackhawk attack.
As the Sharks’ Evgeni Nabakov had a miserable night Chicago reeled off their seventh consecutive road win, surrendering four goals on 22 shots for an .818 save percentage. Nabakov has had endurance issues in the past as he was overplayed in the regular season and then fades in the playoffs, while he was the victim of two deflections for goals in this contest.
The key to the contest was Chicago’s attacking style and seven power plays, which kept the Sharks on their heels, even though the San Jose outshot the Blackhawks and won more face-offs.
The series, which may actually benefit the Sharks as it shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Friday. With a power-play that ranked 29th in the league at 13.9% at home, the Blackhawks are a pedestrian 3-3 at home in the play-offs this year. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the penalty-kill unit was successful 89.4%, second in the league.
San Jose’s problems boil down to a poor first-line defense and mismatches. No one can move Byflugien away from the net while Chicago cycles the puck deep in the Sharks’ end. Add that to San Jose’s history as a slow starting team combined with Chicago’s first period prowess, look for a sweep.