CHICAGO – There was no way Nathan Horton was going to sit out another game in this Stanley Cup final.
The Boston Bruins winger pronounced himself fit to suit up in Game 2 on Saturday night after skating for a second straight day at the United Center.
“I feel good,” said Horton. “I’m ready to go. I’m excited.”
He is believed to be nursing a chronic shoulder problem that has plagued him throughout these playoffs. Despite that, Horton is second in league scoring with 18 points in 17 post-season games.
There didn’t seem to be any concern from the Bruins that he would be limited in his return to the lineup after leaving Game 1 of the series during the third period.
“He feels really good,” said Boston coach Claude Julien. “He looked really good out there the last two days. There’s absolutely no reason he shouldn’t play tonight.”
While Horton said it was tough to watch the two-plus overtime periods on television in Game 1 – his team ended up losing 4-3 to Chicago in triple overtime – he wasn’t worried about whether he would be able to return to the series.
“There was no fear at all,” said Horton. “I knew I was going to play. I feel good, I’m ready. I’m just excited to be back in it.”
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Those of us covering the Stanley Cup final are never happy to see an extra off day scheduled between games. After playing nearly six periods in Game 1 however, the schedule-maker comes off like an oracle, with both teams happy for the extra day of rest prior to tonight’s Game 2.
“It was nice, especially after playing almost two games, the two days off to rest and recover,” said Chicago’s Patrick Kane. “The intensity is still there from whatever happened in Game 1. The series will only more intense, upbeat faster throughout the series.”
Remember, these two clubs didn’t meet at all in this shortened, 48-game lockout season. So there was a few surprises for players when the puck was dropped.
“How good they are offensively,” was the biggest revelation for Kane. “You read that they’re a physical team and great defensively, but they have a lot of patience with the puck. They can make plays, and aren’t afraid to make plays. I think we sort of expected a more sit-back-and-wait defensive team.”
As for playing against six-foot-nine Zdeno Chara, the five-foot-11 Kane figured one thing out mighty quick: “He’s a guy you don’t want to get involved with. It’s not a battle you’re going to win. He’s too big of a beast, too strong. Too physically gifted. He’s one of the best — if not the best — defencemen in the world.”
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Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith was the first to admit that there isn’t a ton of momentum to be carried from the end of Game 1, through two days off, and into Game 2. And in terms of preparation, although the Bruins present a few new wrinkles, having just played five games against the stingy Los Angeles Kings leaves Chicago well prepared for what Boston brings to the table.
“They’re (both) great defensively, they’ve good goaltenders, good defencemen, their forwards have good back pressure and play good defensively with and without the puck,” he said of the Kings vs. the Bruins. “A lot of similarities there. Both physical teams too.”
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Jaromir Jagr didn’t participate in the morning skate on Saturday, but the veteran winger is expected to be in the Bruins’ lineup for Game 2.
“He’s 100 per cent,” said Julien. “He’s 41.”
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– The team that wins Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final has proceeded to win the Cup in 55 of 73 years since the best-of-seven format began in 1939 (75.3%). That includes eight of the past 10 seasons.
– Incredibly, Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford have each allowed 34 goals in this post-season. Crawford holds a league best goals against average of 1.73, just ahead of second place Rask’s 1.78. The Bruins netminder has the NHL’s top save percentage however, at .942, while Crawford is second at .936.
– Dan O’Halloran and Wes McCauley will referee Game 2 tonight. Veterans Jay Sharrers and Pierre Racicot will work the lines.
