Game Four Preview: Tonight We Dine in Hell

The fuse has been lit. After three games the Blackhawks-Flame(rs) series is set to explode. After numerous post whistle attacks on ‘Hawks forwards, the breaking point was reached in the form of Adam Burish breaking his stick on Rene Bourque.

Mike Keenan used this incident to once again play the media to his advantage, crying that Burish broke his stick over Bourque’s face, but he actually broke it over his shoulder. Keenan then whined to the media about the trash talking directed at Calgary captain Jarome Iginla, where he subtly let the media know (unprovoked) that race was not involved in the verbal assaults. This is classic Keenan stirring the pot.

Game 4 (4/22 at 8 pm CST) has the makings of being the most physical game of the series. The Blackhawks know they are on the cusp of a 3-1 chokehold while the Flames realize they are 60 minutes from a tied playoff series. The key for the Blackhawks will be walking the fine line of standing their ground while not letting the game devolve into a bar room fight with the more playoff savvy/veteran Flames.

Just as they did at the beginning of game 3, after Olli “oldest playoff virgin” Jokinen ran Niklas Hjalmarsson (who in this blog going forward will be known as 'Ham-sandwich') they must make the Flames pay on the power play for their ill advised penalties. I expect the referees to dish out penalties for the first couple of post-whistle skirmishes to try and rein in some of the expected violence. The game will hinge on how the referees look to call it and how badly both teams want to send a message.

A fast start by Chicago is imperative to take some wind out of the sails of the Saddledome. Both teams will come out flying, looking to pound the other into submission. The series is quickly mirroring the Philly/Pittsburgh or Ducks/Sharks matchups in terms of intensity and animosity. Patrick Kane on the power play half boards should give the Blackhawks an extra boost with the man advantage.

I look for the Blackhawks to stand their ground but maintain discipline, and execute with 2 PP goals to walk out of Calgary with a hard fought 3-2 win for a 3-1 series lead.

Slainte,

Colin O’Shea