Chicago Blackhawks win Game 7
The Chicago Blackhawks knocked off the Canucks 4:3 in overtime last night at the United Center to force a seventh and deciding game in their Western Conference quarter-final playoff series. Game 7 goes tomorrow night in Vancouver, and the Blackhawks enter it having evened series after being down 3:0 and counted out by practically everyone except themselves.
Not even a surprise start in goal by backup Cory Schneider could reverse the fortunes of the Canucks.
Schneider started, but Roberto Luongo finished the game after Schneider was forced to leave at 2.31 of the third period after Michael Frolik scored on a penalty shot to tie game 3:3.
Schneider appeared to suffer a right leg or groin injury as he stretched out to try to make the save.
Blackhawks rookie Ben Smith scored the winner at 15:30 of the first overtime period, knocking home a rebound of a Niklas Hjalmarsson shot.
If they don’t win tomorrow, the Canucks will become just the fourth team in NHL history to lose a series after leading it 3:0.
Schneider’s start surprised just about everyone. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault had said immediately after Friday’s night’s 5:0 loss in Game 5 that Luongo would start Game 6. Yesterday morning, Vigneault told reporters he had a ‘lot of faith in Roberto.’
- Chicago Blackhawks.
The Vancouver Canucks have one game left to save their season and stave off a playoff collapse of epic proportions.
The Chicago Blackhawks knocked off the Canucks 4:3 in overtime Sunday night at the United Center to force a seventh and deciding game in their Western Conference quarter-final playoff series.
Game 7 goes Tuesday night at Rogers Arena, and the Blackhawks enter it having evened series after being down 3:0 and counted out by practically everyone except themselves.
Not even a surprise start in goal by backup Cory Schneider could reverse the fortunes of the Canucks.
Schneider started, but Roberto Luongo finished the game after Schneider was forced to leave at 2.31 of the third period after Michael Frolik scored on a penalty shot to tie game 3:3.
Schneider appeared to suffer a right leg or groin injury as he stretched out to try to make the save.
Blackhawks rookie Ben Smith scored the winner at 15.30 of the first overtime period, knocking home a rebound of a Niklas Hjalmarsson shot.
If they don’t win Tuesday, the Canucks will become just the fourth team in NHL history to lose a series after leading it 3:0.
Schneider’s start surprised just about everyone. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault had said immediately after Friday’s night’s 5:0 loss in Game 5 that Luongo would start Game 6. On Sunday morning, Vigneault told reporters he had a ‘lot of faith in Roberto.’
Whoever had Game 6 in the Sami Salo injury pool, you are a winner.
The Vancouver Canucks’ often-injured defenceman went down again Sunday, surviving only three shifts before leaving his team’s National Hockey League playoff game against the Chicago Blackhawks due to an undisclosed injury.
Clearly upset, Salo didn’t stop to talk to a reporter after the game. And Canucks coach Alain Vigneault didn’t want to share information – ‘think I’m going to tell you?’ – which was better than fibbing, and saved himself further pantsfire.
But either Aaron Rome or out-of-favour Keith Ballard will probably have to come into the lineup for Game 7 on Tuesday, one day after defenceman Andrew Alberts returned from a wrist injury.
These weren’t ideal circumstances for Alberts to play his first game in nearly 2½ months, thrown into a frantic playoff game and then forced by Salo’s injury to play a few extra minutes.
“It’s tough getting back to the pace of play, especially in the playoffs” – Alberts said. “You get out there, get your feet wet and you kind of learn on the job again. It didn’t end up the way we wanted it to. They were spotting me in and out depending on line changes. It was tough on the other four Ds. I got my time in there when I could and tried to help out.”
Alberts logged 14 – 55 of ice time and, although he was reasonably solid, he got turnstyled by Blackhawk Jonathan Toews on one rush and made a wide turn in overtime on Marian Hossa, who held off Alberts and teed up Niklas Hjalmarsson’s point shot that led to Ben Smith’s rebound winner.