2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Defending Champions Chicago Blackhawks win 5-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets
The defending champions, Chicago Blackhawks were in action this Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 51st game of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series took at the Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blackhawks were
expected to win this game after their loss at home to the Nashville Predators earlier in the week. The Blue Jackets played their 3rd game of the season, while the Blackhawks were playing in their 5th game. Both teams put up quite a show
but punishing every mistake made by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Chicago Blackhawks emerged as victorious at the end with 5-2 score line.
1st Period
The period started on a slower side for both teams as they were looking to dominate the game technically rather than concentrating on scoring. The Chicago Blackhawks expressed their aims in a pre match conference, where they said that they wanted to dominate
and win the game so as to silence their critics after their loss.
The Chicago Blackhawks undoubtedly dominated the game. During the course of the period, they put up some splendid plays. This gave them chances to score frequently as their players were found in open positions every now and then. The Blackhawks scored in
the 10th minute to take the lead when Viktor Stalberg scored from 12 feet through a wrist off shot.
With the score 1-0 the Columbus Blue Jackets wanted to bounce back as soon as possible but this was not to be. Losing possession at a crucial stage during the play, the Chicago Blackhawks pounced on the opportunity and scored once again in the 11th
minute to establish a 2 goal lead. The goal was scored by Marian Hossa from 11 feet by a fabulous wrist off shot that went flying into the net. The period didn’t see much from both sides as the Chicago Blackhawks concentrated on the defence after displaying
some spectacular offensive skills.
The period ended with the score 2-0 in favour of the Blackhawks after they made 19 goal attempts compared to the 11 unsuccessful goal attempts of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2nd Period
The home team, Columbus Blue Jackets was able to pull one goal back when they scored in the 2nd minute two cut down the lead to one goal. The goal was scored by R.J Umberger who scored after hitting a decent backhand from 9 feet.
With deficit cut down, the Columbus Blue Jackets pushed forward in order to level the game but again making mistakes at critical points of play, they lost control of the match.
Chicago Blackhawks bagged 2 goals during the time, with Patrick Sharp scoring the 1st goal of the period for the Blackhawks. The score went to 3-1 in favour of the defending champions as they continued to press on in search for another goal. The
2010 Stanley Cup champions, Chicago Blackhawks scored once again in the 12th minute to take the score to 4-1, sitting in a comfortable position.
When the period ended, the score was 4-1 for the away team as they scored twice after making 10 goal attempts. The Columbus Blue Jackets scored 1 goal out of the 9 goal attempts they made.
3rd Period
As soon as the 3rd period started, the Chicago Blackhawks continued from where they left off and scored in the 1st minute with the score board showing 5-1 score line in their favour. The goal was scored by Tomas Kopecky who hit a brilliant
backhand from 10 feet.
Maintain a strong and healthy lead; the champions changed their roster to give other players the opportunity to taste the competition. There was nothing much to talk during the time with the Columbus Blue Jackets scoring a consolation goal in the 14th
minute to take the score to 2-5. The goal scored was Kristian Huselius scoring from a tip in from 17 feet.
The game ended with the same score as the Chicago Blackhawks won the match.
"It was nice. We had some production tonight," said Head Coach of Chicago Blackhawks, Joel Quenneville whose team was coming off a 3-2 home loss to Nashville on Wednesday. "There are still some areas that we can improve in, but it was a good
road win for us. It was good to bounce back after a real tough loss."
"They took it to us," Columbus captain Rick Nash said. "It was an eye-opener for us, for sure."
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