Murray: Game 2 win puts pressure on Ducks
Q: How big a win was Game 2 for the Hawks, not only to come home tied in the series, but to win a game like that?
A: Your goal when you start a series on the road is a split in the first two games. If you end up losing both of the games, then that puts all the pressure on Game 3 and you're expected to win on home ice.
For the Blackhawks, even in the series against the Nashville Predators, you win a game like that and it's very deflating for Anaheim because they obviously had very quality chances. Corey Crawford was great. Blackhawks end up winning it and mentally they're fresher in their minds.
And it was a big win for them to come back and be able to get some momentum and some energy and now take that into the United Center. For the Ducks, they have to kind of regroup in their minds. Everybody says just like the first game, it's only one game. Now they've got to come in here and win one in Chicago.
Q: After Game 1, the Hawks talked about establishing more of a net-front presence. How do you think they fared at that in Game 2?
A: Obviously the first 2 goals of the game were all about the power play with Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw being directly in front of the net. There was a purpose and a focus of not wasting any time, finding that shooting lane, knowing that somebody's going to be in front of the net. That's what they did and they were able to score those 2 goals.
As the game wore down, it's tougher and tougher to defend because you're just exhausted and that's where you see those real quality looks in and around the goaltenders that both teams had.
If you look at what the difference was it was (the Hawks') effectiveness right off the bat to take away a little bit of the physicality of the Anaheim Ducks because they took those two minor penalties. One was a boarding, one was a cross-checking. Those are avoidable penalties.
For the Blackhawks, it was important for them to make that statement that if you're going to be crossing the line and you're going to be called into the penalty box that you're held accountable for it on the scoreboard. A lot of it had to do with the net-front presence, but they did have better opportunities where they were more determined to go to the front of the net. You look at the last goal, you get bodies around the front of the net, you get a lucky bounce - but it's the difference in the game.
Q: Andrew Shaw spoke of realizing he had more to give and that's why he played so well Tuesday. Was that one of his best games you've seen him play?
A: I thought he was very effective. (There are) a lot of teams that were good over the years but didn't know how to win it. The one thing that the Blackhawks have is the ability to know that even though they've played well, there's more left. And when you have a guy like Andrew Shaw to recognize that and step up his game and be a big factor in the outcome of it, it's really important. You need that kind of pedigree inside your locker room.
Everybody says you're looking for players who have won the Stanley Cup because they've been through the process and they know the price that has to be paid. And that's probably what Andrew Shaw was referring to was, 'Hey, I've been there before and I know that I have another level and I've got to bring that level now.
• Murray is in his 15th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth as the color analyst for the team's radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer who played 15 years in the NHL. Follow him on Twitter@muzz19.