Chicago Blackhawks Ride Patrick Kane To A 3-1 Victory

Jun 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing

(88) skates with the puck along side center

(19) during the first period in game five of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruinsat the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Every anthem at the United Center is special but with a veteran from D-day on the ice the anthem seemed to be the loudest I’ve ever heard it off the TV.  The Hawks weren’t able to carry over that great momentum to get an early score, but even though Boston had the majority of the early action the Hawks didn’t give up a goal with Crawford making all the stops early on.  The Bruins were turning the puck over but Patrick Kane missed the net by a country mile on one giveaway.  Patrick Sharp had two very good chances but didn’t get good wood on either scoring chance.  The Hawks plan was to get after Zdeno Chara and it seemed like it worked in the first with everyone getting a little piece of him.

The Hawks midway through the first started to lean the ice toward Tuukka Rask, and the Hawks were able to get on the board first when the forecheck got the puck to Johnny Oduya who put a big shot toward the net that broke Dennis Seidenberg‘s stick which left the puck on the doorstep and Kaner was able to knock it in for the opening goal of the contest.  Their seemed to be an extra bit of nervousness with every shot on Crawford but at the end of one period Crawford was clean on 11 Boston Bruins shots

Early in the 2nd period it looked like the Blackhawks were about to get a powerplay when Nathan Horton hooked Michal Handzus but the refs called Handzus for diving which really is a crazy call.  If you are going to call a penalty how did the player dive?  Anyways usually it’s to the Hawks advantage when they are playing 4 on 4 but not on this night when the Bruins put most of their best pressure on Crawford it was 4 on 4 hockey.  The Hawks escaped that mess and just like in the first period after an early push by the Bruins the Hawks started controlling the puck then on a nice play by Bryan Bickell Patrick Kane flipped in his second goal of the game for a 2-0 Hawks lead.

Kane almost got his third of the game but just missed the net when the puck was stuck in his skates.  Towards the end of the period the Bruins regained control of puck possession and had some good chances but Crawford was up to the task.  One of the biggest stories in the 2nd period,

skated 2 shifts and never returned for the period.  Bergeron would leave the United Center in an ambulance during the third period.  The other big story was the hit

put on the Captain. Toews would skate two more shifts but he didn’t return for the third period.  Here is the hit on Toews.

The third period was pretty much all Boston Bruins with the Bruins finally getting on the scoreboard with a Chara blast that somehow missed Bryan Bickell twice getting to Chara and on the shot.  The goal put a tremendous amount of jump in the Bruins skates but the Game #4 biggest topic Corey Crawford was up to the task and was able to keep every other Bruins shot from hitting the back of the net.

In the final minutes Michael Frolik got away with a trip and Dave Bolland then found the empty net and a 3-1 lead. Though the Bruins protested no call was made and the final score was cemented.

-The Hawks lead the series 3-2.

-Chara has been on the ice for 8 out of the last 9 Blackhawks goals

-The last time the Hawks played a 6-5 game in the Finals they only gave up 1 goal just like Saturday night.

-The Hawks are 9-1 in Games 4-7 in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

-Game #6 is Monday night in Boston puck drops at 7:20 pm

-The biggest question heading to Game #6 is the health of both teams best two-way players in Bergeron and Toews.

-1 Game

-1 Goal!!!