Bryan Bickell leads Chicago Blackhawks to 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes
Bryan Bickell scored a goal and earned an assist to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at United Centre on Friday night.
Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane both lit the lamp for Chicago, who have won a season-high seven consecutive contests. Ryan Johnson and Jonathan Toews each also tallied a goal, while Corey Crawford stopped 18 shots. The result meant that the Blackhawks moved
into fourth place in the Western Conference with 78 points.
Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville said his team performed well despite a slow start. He said, "We had some good chances in the first two periods and the game was tight. It was one of those dangerous things where they were hanging around. But we got
everyone contributing in the third and we're able to put our foot on the gas."
Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal both found the net for Carolina, who have won their last two play-offs. Justin Peters allowed all five goals on 29 shots in the losing effort.
Carolina Captain Eric Staal said after the game, "We had some pretty good looks out there and some good chances but they didn't want to cross the line. Things got away from us in the third period and with the skill they have over there they took things over."
Blackhawks drew first blood to take a 1-0 lead just 55 seconds into the game. The goal came when Cory Stillman created a turnover in his own zone before Toews knocked the puck into the net. The Hurricanes then tied the game at 1-1 nearly six and half minutes
into the opening stanza. The goal came when a rush into the Blackhawks zone saw Staal trail the play and jam a rebound from the slot for his 29th goal of the season.
However, Chicago went ahead again at 2-1 halfway through the first period, as Bickell stuffed home a rebound off Brent Seabrook’s shot. The middle session was goalless, as both goalies turned away nine shots. Both teams got major chances to score, but failed
to capitalise. Late in the period, Toews let go a shot at the open net during a power play with Peters out of position. However, Carolina defenceman Jay Harrison blocked it with his stick just before it crossed the goal line.
Chicago, though, notched three consecutive goals in the final frame to take command of the game. The Blackhawks extended their lead to 3-1, nearly three minutes into the third period. Johnson slipped the puck from the low left side to the front of the net
and it banked off Joni Pitkanen's skate before trickling past Peters.
Just over a minute later Bolland made the score 4-1, as he blasted a rebound off Marian Hossa’s shot. Patrick Kane made it a 5-1 game in the eighth minute, as he beat Peters from the right circle for his 22nd goal of the season.
Jeff Skinner connected with nearly eight minutes left in the game to round off the scoring at 5-2.
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