What should fans expect in Blackhawks' Game 2?
Troy Murray answers questions from John Dietz about what fans can expect as the Chicago Blackhawks get set to take on the St. Louis Blues in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Q: Was Game 1 a must win for St. Louis, considering the Hawks didn't have Duncan Keith?
A: People are saying that. But it's a one-game series (at this point). I think there would have been a lot of pressure on St. Louis if they didn't win that game without Duncan Keith.
But the bottom line is Duncan Keith isn't going to win the series for you. It was a good win for St. Louis where I think they felt it was a big opportunity for them. … The pressure would be on them a little bit more if they'd lost that game and lose home-ice advantage.
They did what they needed to do. They found a way to win, and give them full marks in how they were able to win that hockey game.
Q: What were your impressions of Game 1?
A: The Blackhawks played a good game. They limited St. Louis to 18 shots on goal. Without Duncan Keith, they played well in their own end of the ice. I think there's a lot of positives that you take out of that game, but it doesn't really matter how well you played. Bottom line in the playoffs is St. Louis is up 1-0, and you've got to find a way to win these ones.
Q: What do you think about the narrative coming out of St. Louis that the Blues want to lay 70 hits a game on the Blackhawks?
A: They feel that in a long series you can wear the Blackhawks down. But not only is that (their) approach against the Blackhawks, that will be their approach against their next opponent if they advance. It's just the way they believe they need to play — that heavy game, that aggressive forechecking system to finish their checks in all ends of the ice.
And this isn't about running Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews. It's about playing a physical brand of hockey and taking away time and space; putting players and teams in a position where they know that they're going to have to take a hit to make a play.
That's just the philosophy that St. Louis has. Anaheim did it last year, teams have always tried to do that against the Blackhawks. It's kind of one system against another. That's just the way it is.
• Troy Murray is in his 16th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his ninth 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.