Hawks played Playoff style hockey against the Canucks. 2-1 OT win
If you could have only gone to ONE game all year, with all the ups and downs the Hawks have had all season, THIS was the game that will stick out in your memory for years to come. It had everything.
Hard hitting, wonderful goaltending, speed, hard checks, hard slap shots, chippy players, angry players. It was the game you expect from 2 teams that truly do not like each other. Not long ago, Patrick Sharp said their 9 game losing streak did more good than it did bad. Huh? He said, (and I'm paraphrasing here), the coaches wanted us (the players) to play a certain style, and during that time they finally bought into that style of play. Shaw who was sent down after that, learned how the coaches wanted him to play. Stalberg, who was literally a hotdog, has bought into forechecking and using his linemates. Patrick Kane has come to life. Bryan Bickell has FINALLY bought into the fact that he must use his big body and hard shot instead of waiting for the perfect play. The goaltending has gotten better, and the defense around him most certainly has. With the acquisition of Johnny Aduya the Hawks are 9-1-1 with him in the lineup. That is no coincidence. He has speed, great puck presence and though he coughs up the puck once in a while, he is limiting that as well.
The Hawks the past few games have gotten to an early lead and that has helped them cruise to some wins. However, the Hawks gave up a quick goal with :27 sec in the game by Janik Hanson. Instead of getting depressed, they played harder. They only gave up 6 shots that first period. This Vancouver Canucks team is one of the fiercest teams to play offensively. The Hawks had 3 penalties in that first period, and they played awesomely during those kills. It probably set the mood for the entire game...and STILL only gave up 6 shots on goal. In addition, Duncan Keith elbowed Daniel Sedin right in the mouth. Not sure if it was intentional, but it took Daniel Sedin out of the game. Duncan Keith will probably be suspended for that, but it was good to see Keith's aggressiveness again.
In the 2nd Period, Patrick Kane tied the game up from a nifty feed from Marian Hossa. The Hawks only gave up 3 shots that period......Then the game got chippy. Very Hawks vs. Canucks like. Penalty boxes were filled, and no one could score. The Hawks had 5 power play attempts, (some short do to overlapping penalties), and they couldn't light the lamp. Keith was at it again with his aggressive play and this time it cost him a game misconduct. I, for one, was so glad to see him be aggressive. This is the time of the year we need to see that kind of play from Duncan Keith. In addition, Vancouver was also given a game misconduct when Alex Burrows was aggressive as well. The most exciting two periods of hockey I had seen in a long while. It was AWESOME.
The 3rd period the Canucks came out and attacked and threw 14 shots at the net...but, the Hawks weren't patsy's either. They had 12 shots on goal. The Hawks then lit the lamp in O.T. when Dave Bolland streaked down the left side waited for a trailing Johnny Oduya and as he was winding up his slapshot, Mr.-Johnny-on-the-spot Andrew Shaw rushed to the net. Oduya's slap shot went off of Andrew Shaw into the net for the game winner. The Hawks went from trying to hang on to a playoff spot 2 weeks ago, to being in the drivers seat for the 6th position and they still have their sight on passing either Nashville and/or Detroit for the 4th or 5th spot.
CHI
VAN
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