Game 1 Recap and Thoughts

 The Western Conference quarterfinals between the Coyotes and Blackhawks started out with a bang( in more ways than one) at Jobing.com Arena last night. Marty Hazal tipped in a point shot from Adrian Aucoin at 9:29 of the first overtime period to send most of the white-clad sellout crowd home happy, and with very little voice like me.
 The game was a typical Stanley Cup playoff game, fast, physical, low scoring and tight. The game had a little something for everyone. The Hawks scored first on a severe angle shot by Jonathan Toews early in the first period. The Coyotes strugged to solve the Blackhawks "trapping" system early on as well. Corey Crawford made "the save of the night" in the dying seconds of the first period, gloving a point blank shot from Marty Hanzal with less than 10 seconds left.
  The Coyotes dominated the second period, committing to the dump and chase beating the Blackhawks trap, which lead to two goals, one for Taylor Pyatt and one for Antoine Vermette. The hits were also coming fast and furious, with each hit drawing a roar from their perspective rowdy fans. Each team had multiple good scoring opportunities during the second and third period as the teams traded penalties. It is noteworthy that the Blackhawks killed off an extended 5 on 3 power play in the second. Dave Bolland went to the box for a hook, and then during that kill, Patrick Sharp sent his clearing attempt all the way down the rink, and into the safety netting above Mike Smith for a delay of game penalty.
 The Blackhawks hung in, and kept the pressure on in the third period, finally breaking through with the tying goal with only 14 seconds left in regulation. Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford had been pulled for the extra skater when Brent Seabrook calmly kicked a rebound to his stick and slammed it in a wide open net.
 Mike Smith continued to give Phoenix stellar goal tending making 42 saves over the course of regulation and OT. Game 2 will be here in Phoenix on Saturday night, and I would expect more of the same.

 This was the second time I have been fortunate enough to be in the stands for playoff overtime, and the first time I've gotten to see the team I'm cheering for win. There were a couple of things that surprised me about game one:

1. Jonathan Toews played, and was effective. I expected him to play, considering he's the Hawks captain and it's the playoffs. I did not expect him to be as effective as he was. Toews took a real beating down in the goal crease and was part of several good scoring chances.
 2. A five on three power play.  Referees are notorious for burying the whistle during the playoffs. Granted the clearing shot by Patrick Sharp that left the rink, over Mike Smith's head, was an automatic call, no judgement there. I couldn't believe Sharp shot the puck that far.
 3. Hits hits and more hits. I don't know what the final number was, but at the end of regulation the Coyotes had registered 44 hits. I don't remember Phoenix playing that physically during the regular year.
4. The visitor's end. There were a number of Blackhawks fans in attendance, and most were well behaved. The one exception was the guy who threw a water bottle on the ice during play. He was quickly escorted out. I also thought it was interesting that 99% of the Hawks fans in attendance were sitting in the end that the Hawks shot twice(aka the 'visitors end'). It was like being at a college sports event where all the fans from the visiting team are in the same end or same section.
 5. In game tweeting. I was not as prepared as I needed to be to tweet during the game. I found it distracted me from the game, and I didn't have enough charge on my cell phone. I will rectify that on Saturday.

 There were also a few things that didn't surprise me, and they were:

1. The play of Mike Smith. He's been on fire for a couple months now, that didn't change last night.
2. Crowd noise. Ive been to 8-10 games at Jobing.com this season. The crowd was the loudest Ive been part of by far. This was the second loudest crowd I've been part of, but more on that later.
3. The work ethic of this team. The Coyotes never quit. EVER. It's one of the things that got them to the playoffs, and make me want to keep watching. Below are a couple of pics I took last night. Enjoy, and I can't wait for Saturday!