Hawks can breathe a bit easier after shaking pesky Preds

The Blackhawks had to take control at some point Sunday.

Didn't they?

Well, yes they did. I mean, when you think about it the Hawks are better than Nashville in just about every phase of hockey.

The question was when it would show up on the scoreboard and whether it would be soon enough.

The Hawks could only hope it was before Nashville irritated them out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Finally, Dave Bolland scored midway through the second period, the Hawks were on their way to a 2-0 victory and oxygen was pumped back into the United Center.

"(The Hawks) played a solid game and played hard," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We have to fight for inches and we didn't fight for inches."

the Hawks tied the series at 1 victory apiece thanks in great part to Patrick Kane and Antti Niemi.

Bolland's goal, assisted by Kane via Jonathan Toews, didn't end the suspense. The Hawks also led 1-0 after two periods of Game 1 and the pesky Preds wound up with a 4-1 victory.

So as big as Bolland's goal was, Kane's second of the series five minutes into the third period was just as big.

"We were looking for a break," Trotz said, "and they got the second goal."

The Predators weren't all that close anymore and staying close is about all they do really well. They cling to pant cuffs, frustrate opponents, create tension and fray nerves.

"You respect what they do," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said, "and how they keep themselves in games."

Still, the Hawks were playing too well to lose even if myriad teams have thought that while sparring with Nashville.

The Hawks dominated just about every stat on the sheet in the first period - shots on goal, faceoffs, hits applied -

Meanwhile, Toews hit the crossbar with a shot. Moments later a Bolland goal was revoked by what appeared to be a premature whistle.

Uh-oh, this is Nashville's strategy, isn't it? Get a couple breaks until the other team's spirit breaks.

The score remained 0-0 as two fine Finn goalies - Niemi and Nashville's Pekka Rinne - stopped everything that came their way.

Hawks' frustration was a few minutes or even seconds away. Quenneville called for patience and simplicity but that's easier preached than practiced against Nashville.

Anyway, thank goodness for Niemi - and how many of you thought a few weeks ago that you would be saying that?

While the Hawks were staying patient and keeping it simple, Niemi was staying composed and keeping them in the game with a series of uncanny saves just before the Hawks broke through.

From the start this game was chippier than the one two nights earlier. Near the end Kane took a hit, Steve Sullivan engaged Kris Versteeg in a wrestling match, Shea Weber crosschecked Kane and a couple other scrums occurred.

Now the series moves to Nashville and the Predators likely will try to escalate the chippiness on home ice.

The Hawks will have to again play smart, stay composed and shake the Preds from their pant cuffs.