NHL Stanley Cup Finals game 4: Chicago Blackhawks 2 TB Lightning 1 recap and analysis

1st period 0-0

The first 9 minutes after the great as always singing performance of Jim Cornelison has been suck a quite ones until TB got the first PP of the game and there they tried to score with long distance shot without reach their intents, Chicago got a PP as soon as the TB's one ended but it didn't stay so long due to the Toews' penalty on Hedman, both PPs have been killed without any threats. The visitors got another PP due to a Timmonen penalty but even if this time they have been able to establish the puck possession and they continue to have issues to find good shots due to a great job by the Hawks' defense, the only chance they had happened on a Johnson shot close to the net answered greatly by Crawford. The quarter ended with a Blackhawks PP that continued in the second one.

2nd period 1-1

The period started with the Hawks' final part of the PP that ended in nothing but since that the home team took the control of the game hitting 2 posts, the first one with a snap shot by Oduya from the blue line deflected in front of the net, the second one on a Sharp's breakaway. After these 2 chances Chicago went ahead on a Toews goal from the blue paint who push into the net a scrambling puck coming from a Sharp's shot. TB tied it some minutes later in a confused way because some Blackhawks' players reacted to the foul for the Lightning so Killorn scored from the blue paint after he received a very good assist from behing the net on the Crawford's strong side. The period ended with TB on offense trying to go ahead forcing Chicago to their defensive zone.

3rd period 2-1

Very balanced begin of the period but after 6 minutes the Blackhawks found the back of the net on a Saad's back hand shot that passed between the legs of Vasiljewsky, TB tried to tied it immediately on a Callahan snap shot from the high circle but it found Crawford ready. With the Lightning off balance trying to score the Blackhawks became very dangerous on breakaways especially when Kane forced the TB's goalie to make a great safe. Crawford kept his team up with multiple saves in the last 2 minutes of the game when TB had the extra skater and put an enormous pressure on their rivals. The awesome saves along with an huge error by Stamkos from the goal crease let the notes of Chelsea Dagger celebrates the win of the home team.

This has been a game dominated by the goalies who denied pretty everything on both offenses, also the mid-ice has been the biggest battlefield for the control of the puck because both teams shown a very good forecheck that created so many difficulties to enter in the offensive zone effectively. TB played without Bisho but his young replacement played such a very good game, the problems came from the offensive side where Stamkos continued to struggle. Chicago played a perfect game defensively but on offense they need more Kane, Sharp and Hossa who didn't play a good game and the result has been a suffered win even with a great Crawford.

MY 3 stars of the game

1 Crawford

2 Toews

3 Vasiljewsky