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.
