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 The Nashville Predators' center took out that frustration on the
Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, keeping his team alive in
their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Scoring the first hat trick of his career, Forsberg paced Nashville
to a 5-2 win, cutting Chicago's lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven
series.
"I wanted to be one of the three finalists, but all the players in
it are good," he said of the Calder. "The most important thing was
we got the win. Now we have to focus on Game 6."
That will take place Saturday night in the United Center, where the
Blackhawks can still wrap up the series with a win. But they will
face the pressure of having to eliminate a desperate team, as well
as possible uncertainty about their goaltending situation.
Backup Scott Darling, who replaced ineffective starter Corey
Crawford after the first period of Game 1 and stopped 42 shots to
get the win, then prevailed in Games 3 and 4, was touched for four
goals on 27 shots.
Asked if Darling would get the call for Game 6, Chicago coach Joel
Quenneville was short with his response.
"We'll talk about it later," he said.
Darling was solid for two periods, helping his team forge a 1-1 tie
with 20 saves. But he and the defense broke down totally in a 2:27
span early in the third period as the Predators turned a potential
season-ender into a celebration.
Left winger James Neal snapped the deadlock 47 seconds into the
period with a wraparound, his second goal in as many games.
"We've been great all year in third periods and we showed why
tonight," Neal said.
After defenseman Michal Rozsival took an interference minor against
center Matt Cullen, Nashville scored 32 seconds into the power play.
Left alone in the slot, center Colin Wilson beat Darling for his
fifth goal of the series at 3:02.
The standing-room only crowd of 17,238 had barely quit cheering that
goal when Forsberg made it 4-1 just 12 seconds later, taking a pass
from center Mike Fisher and whipping a 20-foot forehand past Darling
to conclude the game-changing onslaught.
"They got a lot of excitement in the building after the first goal
(of the period)," Quenneville said. "Three quick goals and that was
the difference."
Left winger Kris Versteeg pulled the Blackhawks within 4-2 at 14:52
off a great backhand feed from right winger Patrick Kane, but
Forsberg finished off his hat trick at 19:49 with an empty-netter,
inspiring a late-night shower of caps from the audience.
[to top of second column] |
Chicago initiated scoring at the end of a dizzying stretch of 9:25
without a whistle. Center Brad Richards beat defenseman Cody Franson
down the left side and wristed a shot through the legs of goalie
Pekka Rinne at 13:27 of the first period.
Forsberg countered at 14:42, gathering a loose puck off a faceoff
and beating Darling with a forehand. The game stayed even through
the second period's conclusion as the teams played at a blistering
pace, requiring only 26 faceoffs and combining for just three minor
penalties.
However, Forsberg and the Predators stood tall with their season at
stake, earning another 60 minutes of hockey.
"If you win, you have Game 7 at home," Nashville coach Peter
Laviolette said. "If you lose, you start the summer. I don't think
the guys are ready to start the summer."
NOTES: Nashville D Shea Weber (lower-body injury) missed his third
straight game and the team has no timetable for his return. NBC
Sports Network reported during the first period that Weber tore his
ACL, but later backed off the diagnosis. ... Predators C Mike Fisher
(lower-body injury) returned to the lineup after a three-game
absence. He was injured early in the second period of Game 1. ...
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning's triple-OT win was the 102nd career
playoff victory for Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, ranking him
third in NHL history. ... D Roman Josi played a franchise-record
45:06 in the Predators' triple-OT loss in Game 4.
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