The excitement was high in the UC with the defending Cup Champs coming into town, after the Blackhawks were shutout in last years only meeting, and then the Bruins went on to do what the Hawks couldn't. Beat the Canucks. The Bruins have struggled a little, as of late, but this was still going to be an important one. Not only this, but late reports had Marian Hossa sitting out with an upper body injury.
The Hawks started off slow, AGAIN, but after the first 5 minutes they were back in the swing of things. Both teams had some solid chances, but the Hawks were the only ones able to crack the scoreboard, and there were 13 shots both ways. The second was a little more tame, after the first five minutes. Each team put one goal on the board, and the Bruins outshot the Hawks, 10-7 in the period. To say the Hawks played a lackluster third period would be a slight understatement. The Bruins tied up the game and dominated the third, and this game was going to go into extra time, to decide the outcome. The game was almost lost on a horrible Hawks turnover, but they got a little luck on their side, and finished OT unharmed. A shootout was on the agenda tonight. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they couldn't solve the Bruins netminder, and ended up with a shootout loss.
- The Kaner line didn't seem to miss a beat with Vik Stalberg filling in for an injured Hossa. Kaner had several very good early chances, including a nice spin-o-rama, but Thomas was up to the task. Kane beat Thomas in the second, to keep his hot streak going.
- One-Trick-Bick gave the Hawks a lead, late in the first. He picked off an Andrew Ference pass, in which every Bruins player was skating the Hawks way, and was in one-on-one wearing Ference as a backpack. Probably one of the slowest breakaways ever, but Bickell's big body shielded the puck and got him in close enough to beat Thomas 5-hole. Big Play!
- Kaner made up for the shorthander against by beating Thomas 5-hole, AGAIN, and putting the Hawks up 2-1. Kaner was picking up the slack from just about every big name player on the team.
- For anyone that yaps about Big Slow being on the ice, or bench for that matter, for his "physical aspect", watch Dan Carcillo play. THAT is how you bring a physical presence to a game. Even Megamind Mayers is more of a physical presence. Carcillo led all players with 8 hits.
- Nick Leddy reverted back to early last years form for a few moments, lolly gagging through the neutral zone and getting his pocket picked. Lucic almost made it cost, but Crawford bailed him out.
- The Megamind/Campbell fight was a side hug/cheek smooch festival. Glad Big Slow was there for moral support.
- Well, all those special feelings of the Bickell goal went away when the Hawks gave up a short hander early in the second. A crazy carom off the boards, which lead to a Bruin's 2-on-1. Crawford had absolutely no chance.
- Nate Horton tied up the game with 8 minutes gone in the third, after both Leddy and Keith, who are suppose to be two of the fastest players on the ice, let the Bruins Boychuck skate right by them, pick up his own dump in, and feed Horton. Add to the fact that Captain Serious, and Sharpie let Horton skate in unmolested.
- When you get outshot 37-29, you'll be lucky to make it to a shootout, especially when you're outshot 24-16 after the first period.
- Tazer and Kruger were the only two players that won over 50% of their faceoffs, which is another telltale sign that things were not well.
- The only noticeable play Big Slow made all night was prematurely releasing and drawing an offsides whistle on a first period Pat Kane rush, in which Kane was so puzzled that he was show after shaking his head in disgust. Serious...what is this? Rusty Olesz CAN skate and he CAN put the puck in the net. It's not like SCott is doing ANYTHING.
- For all the good play that Kaner provided, when he turned it over in OT to give Peverly a break-a-way for 3/4 of the rink, everyone in Chicago had to have the same reaction when I screamed, "C'MON!!!!". Kane HAS to realize that he was the last player back and dump it deep. Instead he hot dogged it, turned it over, and almost cost the Hawks the game.
- Tazer was stopped by a Thomas desperation move
- Seguin beat Crawford 5-hole
- Kaner was stopped by Thomas
- Bergeron never got a shot off, on Crawford
- Sharpie was stopped by Thomas too.
