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Murray Q&A: Hawks need to continue to play with a purpose

Q. What was the one thing the Blackhawks did Saturday night that you really liked?

A. I thought it was pretty simple: Their minds were engaged in the game, and they played playoff hockey. They won battles; they played with desperation; they played with energy and played with a purpose.

It was from the top of the roster to the bottom, and Corey Crawford came up with the big saves at the right time.

Q. How about the play of Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell?

A. If you look at what Bryan Bickell has brought to this team in the postseason, it’s something they’ve really needed: a big body in the lineup that plays with that time of mentality.

He’s had some huge hits, he’s sparked some energy in the playoffs, he’s scored some big goals … he’s a hard player to contain because of his ability to use his size to his advantage.

Andrew Shaw, since Day One, all he’s done is work his tail off in every situation, and he’s going to have to continue that probably throughout his career because he’s the kind of guy you need to bring the energy.

Q. Do we look at Saturday’s win as now the Hawks have momentum, or is it simply that they advanced the series to a Game 6?

A. Momentum is a funny word in the postseason because Detroit had all the momentum coming into Game 5.

Detroit didn’t have their best game Saturday, and a lot of it had to do with the Blackhawks playing as well as they did.

But you know Detroit has a lot of great leaders inside that room. They’ve got a great coaching staff ready to make adjustments, and they’ll come out with a different set of purpose in Game 6 on home ice.

Q. Will the Hawks be coming back to Chicago for Game 7?

A. I don’t like to make predictions, but I think the Blackhawks have the belief inside the room that when they play up to their potential they have a good chance of winning each and every hockey game.

It’s a two-game, one-game-at-a-time series right now, and the Blackhawks just have to focus on playing well.

If you look at it and say is there a belief in that room that Game 7 is going to be a reality? I think it is. And that’s the type of mentality that they have to have.

But they have to understand that there is no Game 7 unless they win Game 6.

ŸTroy Murray is in his 13th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth year as the color analyst for the team’s radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer and a veteran of 15 years in the NHL, playing in 915 career games.

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