The Blackhawks and Blues are each looking for a bit of momentum heading into Game 3 of the series. (Getty)
Are we enjoying ourselves yet?
Or are we drowning in the dramatics of postseason hockey? We know there’s kind of a fine line between those two things.
The first two games of the Blues-Blackhawks series have lived up to the hype and then some. We’ve had OT. We’ve had fights. We’ve had it all. Now we get even more.
With the series knotted at one game each, we head to Chicago on Sunday afternoon for Game 3 as each squad looks to seize some much-needed control. Of course, that’s easier said than done in the playoffs and even more difficult against a a perennial rival.
Keep reading for a breakdown of the latest matchup, including live streaming options in case you won’t be near a TV at puck drop:
Date: Sunday, April 17
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
TV Channel: NBC, RSN, TVA
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Odds: Chicago – 144 via OddsShark
Preview: It’s time for someone to seize a bit of control.
Chicago wants to. St. Louis wants to. It’s simply a matter of someone finding a way to get a bit of an edge over their opponent.
Neither team has been able to do that quite yet.
“Coming out of these two games, we know we have our hands full. It’s been an amazing pace, tight as can be, close as can be, [and] not a lot of room would be expected in that area,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told NHL.com on Saturday. “I don’t foresee much change. Whether it comes down to a big save, a 1-on-1 battle, big power play, big kill … it’s going to be that tight.”
So, how does it change? How can one team get a metaphorical leg up on the other on Sunday afternoon?
A lot may depend on Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford. Chicago has no trouble putting the puck in the back of the net – it helps when Patrick Kane is on your roster – but Crawford is now making his third straight start after returning from an upper-body injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a month.
That’s a lot of ice team for Crawford and it will be interesting to see how he responds to a Blues team that is still seething over Vladimir Tarasenko’s overturned goal in Game 2.
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