The first period was slanted in the Blackhawks favor, out shooting the Canucks 13-10. And unfortunate turnover by an unnamed defender let the Canucks back in the game, late. Fortunate for the Hawks, it only cost them the lead and there was 40 more minutes to go.
The second period was a little less exciting that the opening period. The Blackhawks out shot the Canucks 11-10, but no one was able to advance the score. The Blackhawks did have several quality scoring chances, especially towards the end, though.
The third period was just more of the same. Action at both ends and quality chances. The Canucks actually out shot the Hawks 15-14, but the Blackhawks won the scoring battle 2-0. Congrats to the Blackhawks on nailing down their 7th consecutive playoff berth.
Since I passed the hell out during the third period, and the Blackhawks have something to celebrate about, here is a special GIF enhanced recap:
- With just over 5 minutes gone in the first period, the Blackhawks used a stickless Eddie Lack as an advantage. The 4th line peppered the net and Marcus Kruger slipped the puck back to Teravainen in the slot. He snapped a shot past a diving Lack for a 1-0 lead.
- Midway through the second period, the Blackhawks took the lead back for good. A Johnny Oduya shot from the point was redirected half way to the net by Marian Hossa. The shot went off Lack's right post, and landed behind Lack right on Jonathan Toews' stick. Toews was able to fight off Dan Hamhuis and push the puck into the net. Weird goal, for sure.
- A couple of minutes after the Toews goal, Marcus Kruger turned the lights out for the Canucks. He stole the puck from Bo Ho-Duke in the neutral zone, with some help from Teuvo Teravainen, and rushed to the net. He was able to both out race the Canucks defenders racing off the bench to recover from a terrible change and fight off a diving attempt, to navigate around Lack and tuck it in behind him. Pretty goal.
- Crawford was excellent once again. He saved 36 of 37 pucks he faced, and was lights out to close out the game. I love that he's been huge when they need him most. Saves me the trouble of being the lead Crawford apologist.
- I'm not really sure just how this 4th line is working, but it is. Teravainen belongs nowhere near these guys, but it's somehow working.
- Johnny Oduya....still looking good.
- Kimmo Timonen's ice time has risen, and he's looked better. That's reason for excitement.
- Blackhawks were dominant at the dot, winning 65%. Toews and Kruger were a combined 26 for 38 which is almost 70%.
- The Blackhawks had an early breakaway...but it was Versteeg. You can imagine how that went.
- What is with these Blackhawks too many men penalties??? Quenneville must be crawling out of his skin.
- Vermette with 4 PIMS, a -1, and only 11:59 time on ice. Not good. He has to break out sometime, right?
- The Canucks got a generous 4 minute powerplay for high sticking, and dumb ass Alex Burrows took a hooking penalty to negate half of it.
- With just over a minute remaining in the first period, Michal Rozsival passed the puck across the middle of the Blackhawks zone, right to a surprised Derek Dorsett. Dorsett went right to the net, put a head fake on Crawford and beat him with a perfectly placed snipe of a shot. Make all the excuses you want, intarwebz and Eddie O, but he's just terrible. If David Rundblad made that play, the Blackhawks would have played with 5 defenders the rest of the game. RozySlow gets a pass because he's old, or something. I'm tired of it.
- Blackhawks powerplay is shit. It's forgotten about when they win but, god damn...
Versteeg-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Richards-Vermette
Bickell-Shaw-Saad
Desjardins-Kruger-Tervainen
Keith-Rozsival
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Seabrook-Timonen