Knowing the challenge they face
against the special-teams proficient Oilers
, Chicago had a good test with both its penalty kill and power play units in the win.
Following an opening man advantage where Kubalik nearly connected on a one-timer, the Blackhawks successfully killed off three Blues power plays in a row, while not allowing a shot on goal in either of the first two attempts. No team can match Edmonton's power play that converts at nearly a 30 percent success rate, but St. Louis' third-best 24.3 percent clip during the regular season was a good warmup for what is about to come in the Qualifying Round.
"Tonight was a pretty good test," Saad said of the Blues, who were held 0-for-4 on the man advantage. "I know it wasn't a real game, but just to get back in the groove of things, making our reads, being comfortable with our linemate, that's something that we've got to get comfortable with again. When you don't play a game for five months or so, you kind of get out of rhythm. We had some practice, but it's nice to see it in a game a few times."
On the other end of the equation, Kubalik's opening chance on the power play was just a sign of things to come. On an abbreviated second man advantage in the third period, the top unit of Toews, Kane, Kubalik, Kirby Dach and Duncan Keith were slinging the puck around the offensive zone and connected on a tic-tac-toe tally with three Blackhawks touching the puck in a matter of seconds, with Kubalik slamming home a one-timer in front.