Preds/Hawks Game 3

I know that Chicago is supposed to make a long run this year but a little success for Nashville would be good for the team.

Battle of the goalies from Finland.

Rinne stones Versteeg and then we get a huge scrum after a big hit along the benches. Go figure, Chicago and Nashville could turn into a fierce rivalry. Not just about who has better Blues musicians, but who has the better hockey team.

This game is quite intense right off the hop. Scrums and hits, hits and scrums. No hooking or tripping minors here. The 2 penalties for the Hawks are an elbow and a slash.

Legwand stopped twice on a breakaway by Niemi right at the start of the power play. Cristobal who?

Celebration city in Nashville. Great stop by Niemi on Sullivan but Joel Ward bangs home a rebound. 1-0 Preds @ Bridgestone Arena. Niemi, Niemi, Niemi....YOU SUCK chant is going strong.

Another elbowing call on the Hawks. For an elite team, Nashville got set up and made the Chicago penalty killers look silly. It was a shooting gallery but the Preds have nothing to show for it.

Kopecky ties the score at 1 late in the first. A very entertaining game so far.

What do you know about gorgeous? David Legwand does off a nice feed from Steve Sullivan. 2-1 Preds.

Hawks seem to be in the sin bin quite a bit tonight. That could spell trouble eventually.

Niemi might not have a horseshoe hiding in a body cavity tonight. Shea Weber just bombed one through him to make it 3-1 Preds just about halfway through the game.

Nashville is outshooting, outhitting and outplaying the Blackhawks. 3-1 after 2. Chippy game but a clean game. That is the way it should be.

Underway in the 3rd period in Nashville. Can the favorites comeback in the last 20 minutes and make a game of it? Stay tuned. I know I am.

The Preds seemed reserved to play the dreaded 1-2-2 and sit on this 3-1 lead. Niemi has made a few saves to keep them in the game but Chicago cannot get any sustained pressure going. If you've watched Versus anytime this season you have heard Eddie Olczyk say, "One and done." a bunch. That's what is going on with Chicago right now.

Punch and counterpunch. Martin Erat goes high glove on Niemi on a penalty shot. 4-1 Preds with less than 3 minutes to go. And that is your final.

There are a bunch of long faces on the Chicago bench right now. The dueling Finnish goalies will be back at it again Thursday. Pekka Rinne 2, Antti Niemmi 1.