Corey Crawford brought his A game to Game 7.
The Chicago Blackhawks goaltender kept his team even with the St. Louis Blues through the first 40 minutes of the decisive first-round playoff game, absolutely robbing Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko with the leather.
Crawford denied Robby Fabbri with another stellar stop earlier in the second period.
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Andrew Shaw wasn't even trying to score, but he drew the Chicago Blackhawks even with the St. Louis Blues.
The Chicago forward's pass, intended for Patrick Kane, deflected in off Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to tie Game 7 at 2-2 on Monday night.
Bouwmeester assisted on Jori Lehtera's opening goal of the game and Colton Parayko gave St. Louis an early two-goal advantage, but Marian Hossa scored before the first intermission and Shaw knotted the score early in the second period.
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Either the St. Louis Blues forgot who they're playing, or they're master trolls.
The club tweeted the following before Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.
"Showtime" is Patrick Kane's nickname, and Blackhawks fans were quick to provide reminders in the replies.
@StLouisBlues poor choice of words
— #BleedOrange วัดאַיִ (@SofosXIII) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues you should probably delete this.
— ️Spencer (@LastWordSpencer) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues Why would you use Kane's nickname
— Collin Ashby (@AshbyCollin) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues You do know that's what they call Kane, right?
— Sharon Schmidt (@Sharon_Schmidt) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues Plays for the other team!
— Ron Kelly (@RK3377) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues pic.twitter.com/Gz5Ic5Ijyd
— Jake Liacone (@jakeliacone) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues pic.twitter.com/uXPPVGjyto
— Frankie G (@frankieg90) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues you said it! pic.twitter.com/1syP35o4wo
— Dan (@ChiDan9d) April 26, 2016
@StLouisBlues pic.twitter.com/1kVy9VRWuT
— Kyle Backman (@KyleBackman10) April 26, 2016
The Blues pulled off one of the social media wins of the season with the whole #RoarBacon debacle-turned-rallying-cry, but this one belongs in the loss column.
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The Nashville Predators received a much-needed offensive boost for Game 6 versus the Anaheim Ducks, as forward Craig Smith is back in the lineup.
Smith missed Games 4 and 5 with a lower-body injury, and returns to the ice with the season on the line. He'll return to the Predators second line with Mike Ribeiro and Calle Jarnkrok.
Nashville has struggled to score throughout the series, and have only mounted three goals over their last three games - all of which were Anaheim wins.
Smith scored 21 goals in the regular season, and had two points in three games to begin the series.
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Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn will have a hearing for an illegal hit to the head of Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie in Game 6, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.
Though there was no penalty assessed on the play, the league declared that Schenn was charging, and made illegal head contact.
Here is the hit, which sent Oshie to the locker room as the second period concluded, but he returned for the third.
Schenn and Oshie feuded throughout the series, and dropped the gloves to kick off Game 5.
Oshie said he "doesn't really care" about the hit after the game, and is happy to know the Capitals are moving on to the second round.
Since the Flyers' campaign is over, Schenn could be fined or face a suspension for the beginning of next season.
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In light of Tom Brady's "Deflategate" suspension being reinstated by The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Bobby Farnham - current New Jersey Devils grinder and former high school quarterback - posted a rather facetious tweet about the matter.
I deflated footballs on my high school football team. We went 1-7. Hope the ISL doesn't come after me for that one win.
— Bobby Farnham (@bobbyfarnham24) April 25, 2016
Farnham, a Massachusetts native, perhaps has some rooted interest in the scandal surrounding his home-state New England Patriots.
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A slew of injuries to key players raised some doubts about the Tampa Bay Lightning's fate in the postseason, but after a convincing five-game series win over the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay appears to be right on track.
Top-pairing defenseman Anton Stralman fractured his left fibula on March 25, and head coach Jon Cooper admitted he's "hopeful" Stralman can return in the second round versus the New York Islanders.
With Stralman out of the lineup, the Lightning fared just fine, holding the Red Wings to 1.60 goals per game in the opening round, which didn't happen to surprise goaltender Ben Bishop.
"I never doubted them to begin with," Bishop said. "They've always been there all year. We've had guys in and out it seems like the whole year. We have a good defense corps. We have seven guys that could step in at any time. They've proven it all year, and I didn't expect anything less. I don't think they even elevated. I think we just stayed the same, and they've been that way all year."
Blueliner Andrej Sustr attributed Tampa Bay's early success to its depth as well.
"We've got some veteran defensemen that were able to step in and fill those minutes," Sustr said. "I think we all did a good job stepping up a notch a little bit and playing for Strals. We definitely want to keep going so we get Strals back."
Tamps Bay's short first-round series bodes well for Stralman, who is in his fifth week of rehab, and is exercising on his own regularly.
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Dylan Larkin is heading to Russia.
The 19-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward was among three players added Monday to the United States' roster for the upcoming World Championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
His teammate Luke Glendening as well as New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei were also named to the team.
Larkin will take part in his fourth tournament for USA Hockey after winning a bronze medal at the World Championship last spring. He won gold at the world junior tournament in 2014.
Glendening will represent the United States for the first time, while Skjei will do so for a third time.
The American side includes projected first overall pick Auston Matthews, Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin, and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Mike Condon.
The roster now stands at 11 forwards, six defensemen, and three goaltenders. It will be coached by John Hynes of the New Jersey Devils.
The World Championship takes place May 6-22.
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