Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Blackhawks force game seven after three straight wins to tie series

Nooooooo! Not again! Oh the dramatics between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks continue for a third straight year in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Vancouver looked like the President's Trophy winner, winning the first three games of the series. The Canucks are deeper on offense and defense and have experience in goal. But this is the Blackhawks they are playing, the defending Stanley Cup Champions who have knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs the last two seasons.
Chicago started the comeback in game four in Chicago, winning 7-2. In game five, the Blackhawks crushed the Canucks 5-0, while getting into Luongo's head as he was pulled in back to back games.
Game six Vancouver surprised the Blackhawks by starting Cory Schneider in goal instead of Luongo in the put away game. While Vancouver looked like the better team in Chicago outshooting the Blackhawks, Chicago tied the game on a penalty shot after Hamhuis tripped Frolik on a breakaway. Flolik scored on the shot and in the process Schneider pulled his groin attempting to make the save. Schneider laid on the ice unable to get up. Oh the drama, Vancouver's star goalie, benched against his nemisis in the biggest game of the season, was called into action.
 Luongo only saw one shot in the final few minutes of regulation and the game went to overtime. Vancouver led a furious attack early, but unable to get the puck past rookie Cory Crawford. Then rookie Brad Smith shot a rebound past Luongo who was down on the ice after making the initial save. Chicago won and take the series down to one game, do or die game 7 in Vancouver.

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