Chicago Blackhawks Dismiss New Division Rival 5-2 In Denver

Mar 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing

(39) scores a goal past Colorado Avalanche goalie

during the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The last time the Blackhawks visited the Pepsi Center they were handed their first regulation loss of the season, but tonight would be a totally different story. The Hawks gave a nice welcoming to the Avalanche to the new Blackhawks Division in the form of a 5-2 loss.

The Blackhawks got off to an early lead at 3:47 of the first period when the Colorado defense made a terrible turnover and to of all people Patrick Kane who found Jimmy Hayes all alone in front fo Semyon Varlamov. Hayes buried a back-hander for a quick 1-0 lead.  It didn’t take long for the Hawks to score again when Bryan Bickell took a hit at his own blue line that sprung Viktor Stalberg on a 2 on 1 his feed found Shaw and the puck found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.  The only blemish of the 1st period came in the last 2 minutes with the Hawks on the powerplay after barely missing a goal for a 3-0 lead the Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog blew right bye Brent Seabrook for a short-handed potentially momentum changing goal at the end of the period. Marian Hossa was injured by a hard check by Ryan O’Byrne and never returned to the game with a minor upper body injury.

The second period was a copy of the first with the Hawks owning time of possession and Patrick Kane scoring from an extremely bad angle to give the Hawks a two goal cushion. Brent Seabrook after being a part of the shorthanded goal was in the Joel Quenneville doghouse and didn’t see icetime until past the halfway point of the period, but when he did return he put the puck in the back of the net for a 4-1 Hawks lead. The Hawks gave up another goal in the last two minutes this time to Milan Hejduk to end the period.

The third period was a thing of beauty for Hawks fans with the Hawks playing the majority of the period in the Avanlance end of the ice.  O’Byrne in his attempt to hurt every Hawks player did cross-check Brandon Saad in the face without a penalty being called. Jonathan Toews ended the scoring for the night with a laser off the cross bar to seal the 5-2 win for Ray Emery who went the first 15 minutes of the third period without a shot on goal.

Game Notes

-This was Patrick Kane’s 30th 3 point night of his career.

-The late period goals are extremely annoying and could come back to bite them when the games get tighter.

-The next game is Wednesday night in Anaheim before a 4 straight days off.

-Patrick Kane pulled double shifts with the injured Marian Hossa for two periods….a mile high in altitude!!

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