SCF Game 2 Preview

Boston Bruins @ Chicago Blackhawks (8:00pm ET)
TV: CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Series: 1-0 Chicago
If game one was any indication of what hockey fans can expect from this series, we're in for a good one here folks. Chicago finally came away with the victory during the third overtime, on a deflection goal by Andrew Shaw, and drew first blood in the 2013 Final. In a playoff year dominated by the home team so far, the Bruins know they'll need to play with more desperation tonight if they want to avoid going back to Boston in a 2-0 hole. Chicago won their first two games in these playoffs against LA and Minnesota, and managed to defeat both teams in five games. 

The pressure will especially be on the depth scorers of the Bruins. The only player outside of the team's top six that was able to get a point in game one was Tyler Seguin, while the Blackhawks got offense from their third line and defense while the top two lines were held in check. If the Bruins can't come in waves as Chicago can, this series could be over quicker than they hope. Though they will likely take some solace from the fact they had 2-0 and 3-1 leads during game one, Chicago's ability to come back and ultimately win shows that the Bruins are going to need to be tighten up on defense.

Much of that responsibility will fall to goaltender Tuukka Rask. While Rask was pretty good in game one, making 59 saves, he's now allowed 4 goals four times in these playoffs. He'll need to have a bounce back game tonight. Conversely, Chicago netminder Corey Crawford has only allowed more than three goals once all post season. 

On the injury front, Chicago boasts a healthy lineup, while Boston will be without Gregory Campbell for the rest of the playoffs. Nathan Horton, who re-aggravated a shoulder injury in game one, is indeed going to be in the lineup tonight for Boston. A surprise start maybe, and Horton will have to be careful not to get targeted, but his scoring is too valuable for the Bruins to go without.

Prediction: 3-2 Chicago