Blackhawks Beat Canucks 4—2

Troy Brouwer of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a goal as the pucks sits in the net behind Roberto Luongo. (Nick Didlick/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks held off the physical assault of the Vancouver Canucks, winning the game 4–2 and taking a 3–2 lead in Game Five of their Stanley Cup Semifinal series.

The Canucks started slowly compared to other games in the series, but as the game wore on, the Canucks turned up the physical intensity. However, this cost them two senseless penalties and two power play goals, which proved to be the margin of victory.

The Blackhawks dominated the first few minutes of the game with ferocious offense and frequent hitting. The Canucks started slowly, not playing too sharp in the first part of the period.

After a few minutes Vancouver seemed to wake up, but the Blackhawks still managed to sustain pressure in the Canucks end, though they could not crack Ricardo Luongo. When Vancouver did get chances Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin frustrated them.

Blackhawk’s Dustin Byfuglien scored the first goal of the game with 4:33 to go in the first period, but the lead was not to last.

With 3:25 to go the Canucks got the first power-play opportunity of the game, when Andrew Ladd got a roughing penalty in a goal-crease scuffle.

One minute into the powerplay a Canuck centering pass deflected off stick of Vancouver forward Ryan Kessler and into the net, tying the game at one.

With 8:44 left in the second, Canuck forward Mason Raymond collected a missed Blackhawks centering pass and charged up the ice with Mats Sundin streaking down the wing. Raymond fed Sundin as he crossed the blue line and Sundin ripped a drive right by the glove hand of Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Hard Hitting Escalates

The Canucks increased the intensity of their hitting as the game drew on. While it appeared on a few occasions that the physicality might escalate, as it did in Game Four’s bench-emptying brawl, both teams showed great self-control—for a while.

Finally, with two minutes left in the period, emotions boiled over and Kevin Bieksa and Kris Versteeg started wrestling; Patrick Sharp and Ryan Kessler squared off; … then Shane O'Brien and Matt Walker got into it seriously. The referees were right on the scene, telling both benches that if the scuffling continued, players would start getting ten minute major penalties. O’Brien and Walker went off with matching penalties, while Vancouver’s Bieksa drew a two-minute minor.

Chicago capitalized on the ensuing powerplay, with Troy Brouwer feeding Dustin Byfuglien fifteen feet in front of the net; with a quick wrist shot, Byfuglien tied the game at two.

Despite the warning, the Canucks kept up their hard hitting in the third period. While Vancouver managed to break up most of Chicago’s plays, the Canucks couldn’t put the puck in the Chicago net. Vancouver had the slight edge in offensive pressure, but Khabibulin robbed them on several occasions.

With 6:44 left, Kevin Bieksa was called for high sticking, giving Chicago a man advantage. Chicago didn’t waste the advantage. Patrick Kane grabbed a Canucks clearing attempt, circled towards the net, and dumped the puck across the crease to the waiting stick of Dave Bolland, who beat Luongo far-side.

At 3:53, the Hawks got another powerplay as Ryan Kessler drew an interference call. This time Chicago was not able to score.

With 1:15 left, the Canucks pulled their goaltender to add an extra attacker. Martin Havlat captured a missed Canuck pass and broke free, burying the puck in the empty net, sealing the win for Chicago.

The Canucks came back with six attackers for the rest of the game, but it made no difference. Chicago took the game and a three–two lead in the series.