There was a time when the Chicago Blackhawks were considered a lock to win the Stanley Cup this season. They looked impressive all throughout the regular season. They went on a historic point streak. They won 36 out of 48 games. They were the clear favorite and yet they are currently staring at elimination if they do not win Saturday.
The Blackhawks head home for Game 5 in need of a win or they will be sent packing from the playoffs. Their arch-rival Detroit Red Wings have built a 3-1 lead on Chicago and are hoping to upset the top-seed team.
Chicago has had a frustrating playoff run, especially against Detroit. In Game 4, they were as confused as even when it came to goalie Jimmy Howard. The Detroit goaltender shut Chicago out, blocking all 14 shots. Not to mention, Chicago's best goal scorer, Jonathan Toews, has yet to find the back of the net in the playoffs. If the team falls on Saturday, he will likely receive most of the blame.
Chicago certainly has the advantage on Saturday. They will enter onto home ice and it is guaranteed to be noisy. The fans are well aware their team in need of a win and intend on willing their way to a victory.
As one top team faces elimination, another is moving on to the conference finals. The Pittsburgh Penguins made quick work of the Ottawa Senators to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Senators played like a team of desperation in Game 5, but they were just no match to over-power the surging Penguins. They team got one win of Pittsburgh, but that is all they managed.
James Neal posted his first postseason hat trick during Game 5. In the series, Pittsburgh netted 22 goals agains Ottawa, ending the team's season for the third time in five years. Tomas Vokoun made 29 saves in the 6-2 victory.
"We got to our game a lot. The depth we showed, different guys chipping in. The whole way through we didn't have many lulls where we lost momentum at any point," Sidney Crosby said after the game.
Pittsburgh now moves on to the conference finals for the first time since 2009, the same year the team won their third Stanley Cup. The team will have plenty of time to rest after barely breaking a sweat during the Ottawa series. The Senators only led for 17 minutes of a 327 minute series. Now they will prepare to face either the New York Rangers or the Boston Bruins in the finals.