Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

One More Win For Nashville Or Just A Win For Chicago

04/20/2017 at 8:37am EDT

from Joe Rexrode of The Tennessean,

Nashville’s 3-0 lead is a shocker in the hockey world, at the expense of a Chicago team favored by Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the Stanley Cup and picked by just about everyone else to win this first-round series. If the Predators can get one more win, it will be the most significant achievement in their 19-year history – beating an elite team that has won three of the past seven Stanley Cups, and setting themselves up to make a serious run at one of their own.

That’s why Lower Broadway is wilder than normal these days, and why this team’s TV ratings are surging, and why Monday night in Bridgestone was one of the best scenes at a sporting event you’re going to find anywhere. From Carrie Underwood’s surprise, soaring national anthem to the euphoric celebration after Predators forward Kevin Fiala scored the winning goal in overtime, it was epic.

“Awesome,” Laviolette said. “The rink was unbelievable, the fans were absolutely incredible. … From an organizational standpoint it’s huge, to watch the growth of it. It’s hard not to mention or acknowledge the impact they had on the game (Monday).”

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from Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times,

The pressure is on the Blackhawks to survive Game 4 on Thursday against the Predators at Bridgestone Arena. But the psychology of playoff hockey has a way of turning the heat on the other side, as well.

Patrick Kane already was playing that game Wednesday.

“We really don’t feel any pressure right now,” Kane said. “Being down three-nothing, it seems like all the pressure is on them to win that next game.”

That might be balderdash, Kane and the Hawks just trying to convince themselves the weight of the hockey world is not on them. But until that happens, they’re still the Hawks — with a history of postseason resilience that gives them the right to believe they can will themselves out of even this mess.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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