2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Chicago Blackhawks lose 3-2 against the Nashville Predators
The defending champions Chicago Blackhawks were up against the Nashville Predators in the 40th game of the NHL Premiere Series. The much awaited event took place at the United Centre, home of the Chicago Blackhawks this Wednesday. The game witnessed
21,000 charismatic NHL fans in support of their respective teams. Nashville Predators were playing in their 2nd game of the season, whereas the defending champions, Chicago Blackhawks were playing in their 4th game of the season.
1st Period
During the 1st period, the Chicago Blackhawks dominated the early few moments coming up with quick and strong shots fired at the Nashville Predators goal.
The Nashville Predators didn’t back out from the challenge and also attacked the Chicago Blackhawks defence. The puck was seen going to and fro throughout the period. Both teams were working hard to score a goal. The question was who would score it?
The query was soon resolved as Chicago Blackhawks, the defending Stanley Cup Champions scored through Patrick Kane and took the lead. The goal came in the 5th minute from a 26 feet wrist off shot. Both teams continued with the strong offence that
they had used as their main weapon thus far. Though the Chicago Blackhawks were in the lead, the Nashville Predators didn’t stop from putting the pressure.
As a result, the Nashville Predators scored in the 7th minute to level things at 1-1. The equalizer was scored by Steve Sullivan from 29 feet. With the game all level, both teams didn’t let the score or nerves rule them and continued with their
natural game. The experience and skill of the game that was on display was undoubtedly momentous.
And with the hard work and constant penetration in the Nashville Predators defence, the Chicago Blackhawks scored once again in the 17th minute to take the lead. The goal was scored by Captain Jonathan Toews. The goal came from an 18 feet shot
that went flying past the Nashville Predators goalkeeper. The period ended with the score 2-1 in favour of the Chicago Blackhawks.
During the course of the period, the Chicago Blackhawks scored 2 goals out of the 10 goal attempts they made and the Nashville Predators scored once out of their 10 goal attempts.
2nd Period
The 2nd period saw no goals and the score remained the same. There was nothing much that took place in the period with the occasional chances for both teams. Both teams were able find their players in open and scoring positions but couldn’t net
the puck.
During the course of the period the Chicago Blackhawks made 11-goal attempts but failed to score. The Nashville Predators didn’t score as well as they managed 7-goal attempts in the period.
3rd Period
The final period was dominated by the Nashville Predators, as they came up with superb skills and performances in the department of offense as well as defence.
The Predators determination to score was greater than that of Blackhawks, which resulted in the Nashville Predators scoring in the 5th minute. The goal scored by Colin Wilson levelled thing at 2-2 as Wilson scored from 24 feet away.
The Chicago Blackhawks came up with good performance of their own and were on the verge of scoring but they couldn’t score.
On the contrary, the Nashville Predators sealed the win when they scored in the 18th minute to silence the home crowd. The goal was scored by Joel Ward which won the Predators the match with the score on 3-2.
"It does," Ward said. "But it's the heat of the moment, and there's a lot of hockey going on. You don't really think about what happened a few months ago. We just kind of stayed focused on the task at hand, and that was concentrating on this game. We had
a two-minute power play at the end and we just worried about capitalizing on it."
"The way it ended was a disappointing loss, not coming out with at least one (point)," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We should have had some (points) in every game we've played this year, but tonight was the toughest one we had to deal with."
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