sleddy2008
05-05-2010, 11:19 PM
C/P from TSN.ca
(Sports Network) - The second-seeded Chicago Blackhawks will try to build off the momentum from a comeback victory when they visit the Vancouver Canucks tonight for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at General Motors Place.
After losing Game 1 on home ice by a 5-1 count, the Blackhawks trailed 2-0 in the first period against the visiting Canucks on Monday. However, Chicago cut the deficit to 2-1 before the close of the first and scored three times in the third period to skate away with the 4-2 victory in Game 2 at United Center.
This series is a rematch of last year's conference semifinals, which Chicago won in six games before losing to Detroit in the West finals. Last year's matchup was also tied at one game apiece after the clubs split Games 1 and 2 in Vancouver.
The third-seeded Canucks were 2-1 on home ice en route to their six-game series victory over Los Angeles in Round 1. Vancouver, which will also host Game 4 on Friday, had the best home record in the Western Conference during the regular season, going 30-8-3 at GM Place.
Chicago posted a 2-1 record in Nashville while ousting the Predators in six games during the first round. The Blackhawks had a solid 23-14-4 road mark in the regular season.
Kris Versteeg scored with 1:30 to play on Monday, helping Chicago even the semifinal series with a 4-2 win. Patrick Sharp had tied the game on a short- handed goal early in the third, and the Hawks took their first lead of the series late in the frame.
On a crisp passing play, Brent Seabrook sent the puck from the right boards to the high slot for Duncan Keith, who sent it over to the left side, and Versteeg wristed it home. Patrick Kane added the empty-net goal moments later to seal the victory.
Seabrook had a goal and two assists and Versteeg added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Antti Niemi made 24 saves in the win.
"It was a pretty competitive game," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "We were a little scrambly in the beginning but we settled down and found a way to come back with a big win and put ourselves back where we want to be."
Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond each had a goal for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo made 30 stops in the loss.
"I thought Roberto played a real strong game, but they came really hard at the net all night and it worked," said Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault. "We knew it was going to be a tough game tonight cause they were going to come at us hard. We just have to bounce back and win at home."
Vancouver scored once on six opportunities with the man advantage in the Game 2 loss. Samuelsson notched the power-play tally and now has eight goals and 12 points in the playoffs to lead Vancouver in both categories.
This marks the fourth time the Canucks and Blackhawks have battled in the postseason. Vancouver's only series victory over Chicago was in the 1982 conference finals, when the Canucks ousted the Blackhawks in five games before getting swept by the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals.
(Sports Network) - The second-seeded Chicago Blackhawks will try to build off the momentum from a comeback victory when they visit the Vancouver Canucks tonight for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at General Motors Place.
After losing Game 1 on home ice by a 5-1 count, the Blackhawks trailed 2-0 in the first period against the visiting Canucks on Monday. However, Chicago cut the deficit to 2-1 before the close of the first and scored three times in the third period to skate away with the 4-2 victory in Game 2 at United Center.
This series is a rematch of last year's conference semifinals, which Chicago won in six games before losing to Detroit in the West finals. Last year's matchup was also tied at one game apiece after the clubs split Games 1 and 2 in Vancouver.
The third-seeded Canucks were 2-1 on home ice en route to their six-game series victory over Los Angeles in Round 1. Vancouver, which will also host Game 4 on Friday, had the best home record in the Western Conference during the regular season, going 30-8-3 at GM Place.
Chicago posted a 2-1 record in Nashville while ousting the Predators in six games during the first round. The Blackhawks had a solid 23-14-4 road mark in the regular season.
Kris Versteeg scored with 1:30 to play on Monday, helping Chicago even the semifinal series with a 4-2 win. Patrick Sharp had tied the game on a short- handed goal early in the third, and the Hawks took their first lead of the series late in the frame.
On a crisp passing play, Brent Seabrook sent the puck from the right boards to the high slot for Duncan Keith, who sent it over to the left side, and Versteeg wristed it home. Patrick Kane added the empty-net goal moments later to seal the victory.
Seabrook had a goal and two assists and Versteeg added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Antti Niemi made 24 saves in the win.
"It was a pretty competitive game," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "We were a little scrambly in the beginning but we settled down and found a way to come back with a big win and put ourselves back where we want to be."
Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond each had a goal for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo made 30 stops in the loss.
"I thought Roberto played a real strong game, but they came really hard at the net all night and it worked," said Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault. "We knew it was going to be a tough game tonight cause they were going to come at us hard. We just have to bounce back and win at home."
Vancouver scored once on six opportunities with the man advantage in the Game 2 loss. Samuelsson notched the power-play tally and now has eight goals and 12 points in the playoffs to lead Vancouver in both categories.
This marks the fourth time the Canucks and Blackhawks have battled in the postseason. Vancouver's only series victory over Chicago was in the 1982 conference finals, when the Canucks ousted the Blackhawks in five games before getting swept by the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals.