Nobody said it would be easy. After a frantic first period where the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators combined for 7 goals, the Hawks then bent and never broke, holding on for a 5-3 win in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville,  The Hawks close out the series 4 games to 2.


THE GOOD:

The Penalty kill. They gave up their first PPG of the playoffs tonight, but when the Hawks were hanging onto a one-goal lead, and the refs were giving the Preds 3 straight power plays, they held. Two of those kills were achieved without the Hawks' best penalty killing defenseman in this series, Brent Sopel.

Jonathan Toews. Not only did he score the eventual game winner, stopping the bleeding at the end of the first period. He added two assists, and channelled his inner Craig MacTavish in the faceoff circle.

Marian Hossa. 3 assists, and was an absolute beast on the forecheck.

No more facing Shea Weber's shot. He has no idea where the damn puck is going, except that it was going to hit a Blackhawk. God only knows how many welts Sopel is sporting, and Brent Seabrook limped off the ice after blocking one.

THE BAD:

The power play. They got 5 straight power plays in the second period, and converted on absolutely none of them. They'd better get that shit together quick, since we know the Hawks are facing Vancouver in the next round, and the Canucks will bring their goonshow. The way to make them pay is to let them know it will cost them goals.

THE UGLY:

The officiating. Boy howdy, they were dogshit tonight. Whistling dead a odd-man Hawks rush for a Preds' penalty? Giving out 5 straight power plays to the Hawks, then 3 straight to the Preds? This was an absolute trainwreck.

Still, good to see the Hawks close this one out. As stated previously, the Canucks await.

The Preds gave a game effort, and with some of the players they have in Milwaukee, they have a bright future. But the Hawks' present is much brighter.

4 down, 12 to go.