Chicago Blackhawks Thrash Vancouver Canucks 7-2 in Game 4, to stay alive in Series–NHL Play-offs Update
Looks like the return of Chicago’s centre, Dave Bolland, made all the difference as he rejoined the line-up after missing 17 consecutive games due to a concussion. The Blackhawks stayed alive in the Western Conference quarterfinals (3-1) as they thrashed
first place Vancouver Canucks, 7-2, at the United Centre in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday.
It is highly unlikely that Chicago will win the remaining three games to take the series from Canucks who have played their best season in their 40-year franchise history.
Hawks did however, save themselves from embarrassment by winning at least this one game to save their name from being added in the list of teams who were swept clean in the play-offs following a Stanley Cup.
Bryan Bickell gave the Hawks an early lead 1:43 into the first period and was replied by Sami Salo nearly three minutes later during Chicago’s second penalty.
It was all Chicago after that when they ended the first period tied. Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik all scored for the Hawks consecutively on a shooting spree which started five minutes into the second and last up until the
final 60 seconds.
Vancouver goaltending was facing a tough time, maybe it was the crowd pressure that was getting into the minds of Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider.
The sold out stadium was roaring and the same roar echoed so much that it seemed like fans did not stop shouting. After playing four minutes into the final period, Vancouver decided to change Luongo and play Schneider instead.
Luongo made only 22 rejections while letting six through and was pulled out for the second time during the postseason in his career.
Schneider, who replaced him did not have an easy time himself, he had to face seven shots in the remaining 16 minutes but managed to only block six of them.
"I felt good. I was seeing the puck well so I'm just going to put it behind me. I mean, I'm not going to beat myself up over it", said Luongo.
Making the decision to pull Luongo out was consequence of Patrick Sharp scoring in the final period.
Schneider came and Sharp scored again, both, during the enormous amount of power-plays given by both teams.
Shocking as it may seem, Canucks and Hawks were given a combined penalty time of over 90 minutes.
Maxim Lapierre, Tanner Glass, John Scott, Victor Oreskovich and a number of other players were given 10-minute misconducts including 5-five minutes for fighting.
"We're going to park this one, turn the page on it, and get ready for the next one. We know the adjustments we need to make are real simple", Vancouver’s coach, Alain Vigneault, said.
Both teams face-off for what might be the last time in game five on Thursday at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
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