VS

8:00 PM

TV:  CBC; RADIO:  TEAM1200

SERIES SO FAR

Boston has been the better team as a whole, with Chicago basically having 2 dominant periods.  The third period in game 1 and the first period in game 2 were the Hawks at their best.  Almost every other period has been even or in the Bruins’ favor.  That includes all three periods of game 3 that allowed Boston to win the first game in regulation in the series and take a 2-1 series lead into game 4.

Jun 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) looks back into the net after losing sight of the puck while making a save during the third period in game three of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian Hossa, CHI:  The former Ottawa Senators winger missed game 3 with an upper body injury and is expected to play in game 4.  If he can go, the question is how effective can he be?  If he wasn’t good enough to go in a Stanley Cup Final game 2 days earlier, how much better can he be Wednesday?  He was very noticeable by his absence and his presence (and then some) is required if the Hawks want to move on.

Daniel Paille, BOS:  Nobody would have expected Dan Paille to have the winning goal in both Boston victories in this series, but that is what he has done.  However, Paille’s strengths lie in his physical play and his defensive prowess.  Any offense he can add is just a bonus.

TOP 3 STORYLINES FOR THE GAME

1.  Offensive offence – The Blackhawks have not beaten Tuukka Rask in over 120 minutes, and aside from a deflection off a skate in game 1, they might have scored just 3 goals so far (they have 5) in the equavalent of more than 4 games when you include overtime.  The Hawks have to find a way to get to Rask, and playing your best player with 2 4th liners isn’t the answer.

2.  Wearing Down Big Z – Zdeno Chara has played a lot of minutes, but Chicago hasn’t made it tough on him.  Chicago should have the likes of Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell finishing their checks on Chara every time they are on the ice, to wear the big guy down just a little bit.  Easier said than done however.

3.  Crawford – Win or lose, Corey Crawford has also vaulted into a higher level of NHL goaltenders with his performance in these playoffs.  He has been overshadowed by Rask, but if not for Crawford, this series would have been over a long time ago.  He has kept his team in games that they haven’t deserved to be in.

PARTING SHOT

If Chicago can’t find a way to win this game, it won’t go past game 5.  The Bruins have shown good killer instinct since the scare put into them by the Maple Leafs, which seems like decades ago now.

May 7, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; The Ottawa Senators score with 22 seconds left in the third period in game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs to tie the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Place. The Senators defeated the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

This will be the fourth incarnation of a name on the 17-year old building that was called the Palladium when it opened in 1996, quickly became the Corel Centre, in February 1996 and after their 10 year contract expired, they didn’t renew the naming rights.  Scotiabank opted in, with a 15 year agreement in 2006, which is now not even half way completed.

It will be interesting to see why the name change came about, as Scotiabank also owns the naming rights to the Saddledome in Calgary.  Perhaps they felt the redundancy to have two major facilities in the same league bear their name and they are opting out.  Maybe Eugene Melnyk will get a double dip for a bit, as I can’t see him letting Scotiabank off the hook with no penalty.

Reaction so far to the potential new name of Canadian Tire Centre has been mixed, and there have been lots of jokes that the Senators will now be drafting or signing Albert. (And for those of you under 35, I did a little mock post on Albert about a year and a half ago).

We will bring you the details of the announcement and the confirmation of the new name after it is made official.