Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Naturally, bruising Blackhawks - Blues game goes to overtime

Carl Gunnarsson, Brian Elliott, Marian Hossa, Scottie Upshall

St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott, bottom, deflects a puck away from teammates Carl Gunnarsson, top left, of Sweden, and Scottie Upshall, top right, as Chicago Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa (81), of Slovakia, gets in on the play during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

AP

The Lightning and Red Wings teased it, but it took the third game of the first night of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs to get that beloved, anxiety-racked blessing know as playoff overtime.

It really fits this rugged Chicago Blackhawks - St. Louis Blues game, too.

The first goal of this Game 1 will be the only goal, as both Brian Elliott (28 saves) and Corey Crawford (16 stops) have been perfect through regulation.

The other thing that stands out is that the Blues are aiming to bruise their rivals, generating a 41-19 hit advantage. One can quibble about how much of an advantage that really might be - usually, when you’re delivering checks, you’re also chasing the puck - but it fits with the Blues’ MO.

One bounce, one mistake, one brilliant play could be all it takes for the Blackhawks or Blues to go up 1-0 in this series.

It’s beautiful and unnerving, isn’t it?