Vancouver Canucks get shutout by Chicago Blackhawks 5-0: Quarterfinal Series 3-2 –NHL Play-offs
It was another embarrassing moment for the top team in the National Hockey League (NHL) as the Vancouver Canucks were shutout by the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. It was their second consecutive loss to the Hawks who also thrashed them 7-2 in game four. Chicago
goalie Corey Crawford made all 36 saves, locking down the Canucks at their own Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday.
The Western Conference quarterfinals have reached a surprising game six mark when the teams face-off again on Sunday in Chicago. It was highly unexpected that the Hawks would get this far into the series and that too against the league leading Canucks, after
barely making the last spot on the post-season entry list.
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo was pulled out of the match by their coach after letting through Chicago’s fourth goal on only 12 attempts even though they faced fewer shots than Crawford. He was replaced by the back-up, Corey Schneider, who managed to block
the next 13 of 14 shots on goal.
Marian Hossa opened the scored at 5:54 while taking advantage of Vancouver’s first penalty of the match when Tanner Glass was sent to the benches for interference. Duncan Keith scored his third of the series 24 seconds later, while Patrick Kane capitalized
on another power play opportunity nearly six minutes later to end the period by a huge 3-0 deficit for the home team.
Hossa and Keith scored again in the first five minutes of the second period. Keith was named the player of the match after making a four-point performance, including two goals and assists. Hossa also picked up an assist while Patrick Sharp helped Chicago
on two of their goals as well.
Vancouver had many opportunities at the net, with over 10 minutes of power-play chances. The side also failed to capitalize on the mistakes made by the Blackhawks. Chicago killed all their penalties throughout the match. They seem ready to take down the
Canucks in game six and take it into a seven game series if they continue to play like this.
The next two games are still tough for the Blackhawks as they will remain on the verge of elimination.
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