Not Qualified To Comment » Hawks Series Tied 1-1 Heading Back to Chicago

Hawks Series Tied 1-1 Heading Back to Chicago

May 4, 2009 at 10:00 am | Chicago Blackhawks, NHL
By: StevieY19

For Chicago fans, a depressing loss by the Bulls Saturday night looked like it was going to lead to another loss by the Blackhawks. Finding themselves in another early hole–down 2-0 after one–the Hawks stormed back to beat Vancouver 6-3 and tie up the series.

Just like in Game 1, when the Hawks fell behind they ended up carrying the play and peppering Luongo. This time the Hawks finished the job. Patrick Sharp scored two goals in about three minutes in the second period to tie the game up, then Dave Bolland scored a shorthanded goal with 3:10 left in the period to take the lead.

The Bolland goal was a thing of beauty. Duncan Keith lobbed the puck from his own zone to Bolland who snagged it out of the air at the blue line and in one motion was skating in on Luongo unabated. After a sweet move befitting a veteran of the playoffs, the youngster put in the go-ahead goal. Chicago outshot Vancouver 13-5 in the crucial second period.

The Hawks came out firing in the third period with goals from Eager and Kane in the first six minutes to break the game open. The Canucks would add a late goal on a 5-on-3 power play.

Frankly, this was the kind of game I expected. Luongo was great in the first round, but he doesn’t get to play the St. Louis Blues all playoffs long. The Hawks are going to put a lot more pressure on Luongo and they get scoring from everywhere. I really think the Hawks are markedly better than the Canucks and if they can continue to bring the energy and focus every game, they’ll win this series.

The Blackhawks were dominant in even strength play Saturday. All three of Vancouver’s tallies came on the power play. A key for Chicago going forward will be to stay out of the penalty box, but if they’re going to score four even strength goals, I guess that it isn’t that big of a deal.

Today is an extra day of rest, so Game 3 will be tomorrow night at the United Center and starts at 7:00 CT. The Hawks have to feel good about stealing home ice early in the series and have a great chance to put a strangle hold on it the next couple games in what is sure to be a rambunctious atmosphere on the West Side.