The Chicago Blackhawks will look to avoid elimination tonight in Game 5 against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference NHL Playoffs. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on the NBC. Currently the odds for the game have the Blackhawks heavily favored to win tonight.
In the history of the NHL Playoffs a team that leads 3-1 in the series has gone on to finish 238-24 (91 percent) of the time. The Red Wings are pretty heavily favored to advance in this playoff series, needing just one win in the next three games to be able to knock out the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings have won three straight games overall over Chicago, who had not lost three straight games at all during the regular season.
Jonathan Toews was certainly frustrated with the officiating and penalties that occurred in Game 4 back in Detroit. He spent some significant time in the box late in the contest for what he believes were not good calls. Yet the Blackhawk captain is moving past that fourth game, knowing that his team needs to win Game 5 in order for their season to continue. If they get caught dwelling on what has happened before they could wind up getting beat tonight. And Toews is struggling, having not scored a goal in his past 10 playoff games dating to last season.
The Red Wings have been playing very well the last month. They were able to win four games in a row to reach the playoffs and then beat the Ducks in seven games. Now they hold a commanding 3-1 lead over the team that was best in hockey during the regular season. A big amount of credit should go to goalie Jimmy Howard, who has a goals against average of 2.21 and saving better than 92 percent of the shots he has faced. Howard has come up huge against the Blackhawks. The Detroit goalie has stopped 86 of 88 shots over the past three games for .977 save advantage in those games.
Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa combined for three shots in Game 4. Patrick Sharp got off to a great start in the postseason, but is without a point in the past two games. They have a lot of talent and a lot of big names, but right now they are getting out worked by the Red Wings.
The Blackhawks faced a similar situation when they lost the first three games of a playoff series against Vancouver two years ago. They managed to force a Game 7 and lost 2-1 in overtime. We think they get a win in this game over the Red Wings. They have too much talent and did pick up a 4-1 win over Detroit in the opener of this series. But, they are in must-win mode and they might be pressing a little bit in this one.
Look for the Wings to continue to put pressure on Blackhawk goalie Corey Crawford. He is going to have to come up huge for Chicago in this game tonight if the Blackhawks are going to be able to stay in this series. But expect them to pick up a win here tonight.
Free Pick: Chicago 3, Detroit 1
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