The Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL's best team in the regular season, is down 2-1 the tough-nosed Detroit Red Wings, and must win tonight in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena to avoid returning to Chicago without the threat of elimination hanging over their heads. The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. and Game 4 will be televised on NBC Sports Network. It can be live streamed for free here; additionally Red Wings supporters can hear the game at 97.1 FM The Ticket, while Blackhawks backers can tune in to WGN 720.
Chicago has fallen into this 2-1 hole largely because of stellar goaltending by Jimmy Howard, who was tied for the NHL lead in shutouts (5) this season. Howard, who has saved 93 percent of the shots on goal this postseason, has admitted facing the Blackhawks is no easy task.
"That was probably the fastest playoff game I've ever been a part of," Howard said. "I expect it just to get faster Thursday night. They're going to step it up. We need to come even harder."
Conversely, the Blackhawks have had a hard time keeping Detroit off the scoreboard in Games 2 and 3, and some in NHL circles are beginning to wonder whether Chicago should turn to backup goalie Ray Emery in net instead of Corey Crawford.
When Crawford went down with an injury during the regular season, Emery was 10-0 in his absence. Still, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said, We're not talking about that right now. He's [Crawford] been fine." Crawford himself acknowledged he isn't playing well, but said that Chicago just needs to fight through this rough patch. "We haven't had a lot of adversity this year," Crawford said. "We just have to dig deep and battle."
While the pressure is mounting on Crawford and the Blackhawks, there is another kind of pressure facing the underdog Red Wings, who have to make the most of the glimpse of vulnerability the West's No. 1 seed is showing. According to Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, Howard is the perfect man to withstand the heat.
"Nothing really bothers him," Zetterberg said. "If he lets in a goal, he just flushes it and moves on."
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