CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PLAYOFF BLOG (NHL '10)

The Chicago Blackhawks finished with a 45-24-13 record to win the Central Division and finish 2nd in the Western Conference. Patrick Kane finished with 94 points in 82 games, Jonathan Toews was 2nd with 89 points in 76 games. Marian Hossa had a slow start to the season but finished with 77 points in 79 games. Duncan Keith is in the conversation for the Norris Trophy, he has 65 points in 80 games.

ROUND 1 of the playoffs vs. Anaheim Ducks #7 seed
Game 1
1st period
The period starts out slow with both teams being very cautious. At 9:35 of the 1st period Anaheim’s Brett Festerling is called for tripping. The ‘Hawks had couple good chances but the Ducks kill it off.
With 6 minutes left in the 1st Saku Koivu put a weak backhand shot past Huet. Wisniewski and getzlaf pick up assists.
With 2 minutes left Andrew Ladd rings one off the post, Kris Versteeg gobbles the rebound up and fires one at the wide open net and shoots it wide.
After 1 its 1-0 Ducks. SHOTS: Chicago 9 Anaheim 7

2nd period
At 8:28 of the 2nd period Erik Christensen pounces on a rebound and stuffed it in the cage past Huet. 2-0 Ducks.
4 minutes later, Scott Niedermayer picks the top shelf for a 3-0 lead.
Anaheim dominating with 18 shots to Chicagos 12

3rd period
At the start of the period, Anaheim’s Joffrey Lupul takes an elbowing call but just 20 seconds into the PP Dave Bolland takes an elbowing penalty.
Christensen scores again off a pass from Lupol to make it 4-0
FINALLY...Toews brings it in the zone, sends a cross crease pass to Hossa and he puts it home for a 4-1 game.
Not really any chances the rest of the game and Anaheim coasts to the easy win to take home ice advantage away from Chicago.
4-1 final...31 shots for Anaheim 19 for Chicago

Game 2 (Anaheim leads series 1-0)
1st period
Selanne scores 30 seconds into the period and then Getzlaf slides one past Huet to make it 2-0 at 6:02. Huet was pulled after that goal. He looked terrible so he gets the hook and Niemi comes in.
Patrick sharp scores with 1 minute left in the 1st period off a good forecheck by the ‘Hawks. 2-1 Ducks.
8-8 SHOTS

2nd period
Corey Perry scores by tipping a point shot past Niemi 3-1 ducks...14 min left.
3-2!! Patrick Kane scores off a feed from Hossa!
Right after the goal Getzlaf takes a tripping penalty...good opportunity here for the Hawks.
After the PP Hossa pounces on a rebound, Toews and Kane get the assist. 3-3
5 minutes later, Anaheim’s Ryan Whitney takes a point shot and it goes top shelf 4-3 Ducks.
Parros takes a high sticking penalty with a minute left in the 2nd
5 on 3 for 39 seconds when Niedermayer takes a tripping call with 2.3 seconds left in the 2nd.
4-3 after 2 periods
Chicago 22 shots
Anaheim 12

3rd period
PP GOAL!! Toews wins the faceoff to Kane and he passes back to Toews for a top shelf shot over Giguere to tie it 4-4.
Patrick sharp brings it in over the line and fires a slap shot under the pad of Giguere...14 minutes left in the 2nd! 5-4 ‘Hawks!
With 45 seconds left the Ducks pull the goalie and fire away at Niemi but he is solid...Kane scoops up a loose puck and fires one in the empty net to make it 6-4 Chicago
30-20 shots for Chicago


Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)
1st period
Niemi gets the start in place of Huet who was dreadful last game.
Corey Perry opens up the scoring with 4 minutes left in the 1st by going five hole from a bad angle on Niemi. 1-0 Ducks.
Later in the period Niemi saves the first shot but Koivu bangs home the rebound...2-0 ducks.
End of 1st period: 2-0 ducks...shot: Ducks 7 Chicago 6

2nd period
Lupul takes a pass from Selanne and roofs it under the glove of Niemi to make the score 3-0 ducks mid way through the 2nd. I am so mad right now.
SHOTS Chicago 12...Anaheim 14

3rd period
Lots of pressure for the Hawks but Giguere is playing great...Chicago goes to the PP when Beleskey takes a delay of game call.
Bolland shovels in a shot off a rebound from a cam barker point shot...PP goal...3-1 ducks
Hossa makes it 3-2 for the Ducks...wrist shot from the slot...6 minutes left in regulation time.
Right off the faceoff Koivu takes a tripping penalty...
Sbisa takes a tripping penalty...5 on 3 advantage with 5:44 left.
Bolland with his 2nd PP of the game on a feed from Sharp! 3-3 tie.
Ryan Whitney takes a slashing penalty with 20 seconds left in regulation!
At the end of regulation its 3-3.
Shots: Chicago 28...anaheim 16

OT
A shot is taken from the point and saved by Giguere but Patrick Sharp bats it out of the air to win the game 4-3 OT win for Chicago. Unbelievable comeback from 3-0 down.
SHOTS: Chicago 32 Anaheim 20

Game 4 (Chicago leads series 2-1)
1st period
Kane opens up the scoring on a one timer, gorgeous pass from Hossa. 1-0 ‘Hawks with 11:40 left in the 1st period.
Anaheim dumps the puck in and Niemi misplays it and Christensen puts it in...1-1...3 min left.
Niemi looks shaky...other than that Chicago dominating. Shots: Chicago 12 Anaheim 4

2nd period
Ducks break out and Chris Campoli (acquired by the Ducks in a deadline deal) joins the rush and buries a wrist shot to make it 2-1 Anaheim.
Sharp ties it up 3 minutes later on a sweet pass from Afinogenov (acquired earlier in the year for Dustin Byfuglien and a pick). 2-2 tie.
10 minutes left in the period and Getzlaf takes a slashing penalty...1st call of the game.
They kill it off. Tough one.
2-2 after 2 periods of play...24 shots for Chicago...14 for Anaheim.

3rd period
At the 3 minute mark Corey Perry goes off for holding.
Getzlaf scores a SH goal on a sloppy play by Barker...friggin’ brutal.
Chicago can’t clear the zone and with under 10 minutes left Lupul slaps one past Niemi for a 4-2 lead. So frustrating.
7 minutes later Hossa scores on a pass from Kane...3-2. Great goal.
His 4th of the playoffs.
Right when I have a chance to come back freaking George Parros of all people scores on a weak rebound goal...5-3 Anaheim. Parros also collected 3rd star with 1 goal and 1 assist. So lame.
Game over 5-3...series tied at 2-2
The first team to score a goal has lost every game...weird.
Shots: Chicago 32...Anaheim 21

Game 5 (Series tied 2-2)
Huet back in the net for this one. Niemi wasn’t great in game 4...

1st period
Getzlaf opens up the scoring on a defensive breakdown by Chicago...1-0
At the 15 minute mark Niedermayer takes a tripping penalty....
On the PP 2 unreal saves are made by Giguere...then D-man Sbisa takes a slash...5 on 3 for 30 seconds.
Another save by Giguere...but persistence pays off when Toews feeds Kane to tie the game 1-1 on the PP.
Good 1st period...1-1
Chicago 12...Anaheim 4

2nd period
Off the forecheck Corey Perry feeds to Bobby Ryan (his 1st of the series) in front of the net who snaps one past Huet..2-1 Ducks.
Getzlaf scores on a slap shot...Huet is terrible..3-1
Christensen takes a slashing penalty...
Toews scores on a pass from Hossa to make it 3-2...PP goal
Perry scores...4 goals on 8 shots...what terrible goaltending. 4-2 Ducks.
Anaheim takes a penalty...Bobby Ryan elbowing. 3 min left in the 2nd.
15 seconds into the PP Brent Seabrook takes an elbowing penalty. ‘Hawks playing with incredible discipline.
The clear problem in this game is goaltending...Chicago 19 shots...Anaheim 8 shots...but 4 goals off those shots.

3rd period
Perry takes a high sticking call...2 minutes...Chicago going back on the PP
Wisniewski takes a delay of game call...5 on 3 advantage.
Versteeg feeds Toews in front of the net to make it 4-3...great PP tonight...3 for 5.
Getzlaf pounces on a rebound and scores...Niemi is terrible
5-3 Anaheim...10 shots on net.
Perry scores off a rebound...6-3 Anaheim...putting Huet back in
Toews feeds Hossa for a 6-4 game...awesome move
Hossa takes a hooking call...
Niedermayer takes a tripping call...4 on 4
Getzlaf gets a game misconduct for slashing...5 minPP for the next 4:38
Toews passes to Kane for a goal...6-5 anaheim...PP is unreal tonight.
Anaheim kills off half of the 5 minute major and wins 6-5...3-2 series lead for Anaheim
Shots...Chicago 32...Anaheim 18
Might have to spend some $$$ or trade for a #1 goalie next year cause this is ridiculous.

Game 6 (Anaheim leads series 3-2)
Huet gets the start despite an abysmal performance...Niemi was just as bad if not worse so it was really was a toss up.

1st period
Toews opens up the scoring 2 min in with a snap shot from the right hash mark...assists to Kane and Sseabrook.
Slow period so far...5 minutes left and I don’t want to make a mistake. Playing conservative, dump and chase, because of the poor goaltending I can’t pinch or take chances.
Best chance for Anaheim came on a 2 on 1...but Huet stood tall and stopped Todd Marchant to preserve the 1-0 lead at the end of 1
Shots: Chicago 2...anaheim 7

2nd period
At the 5 minute mark in the 2nd period Wisniewski takes a bad roughing penalty...Chicago to the PP
Both teams still playing conservative...
With 2:37 left in the 2nd Campoli takes a slashing call.
Anaheim kills it off...Huet has been solid...perhaps the wakeup call of being pulled in the previous game has helped.
Still 1-0 after 2
Shots: Chicago...8...Anaheim 12

3rd period
To start the 3rd Chicago sustains pressure and Toews trickles one past Giguere...great forecheck...2-0...Kane and Keith get the helpers
Anaheim scores...Huet made the initial save but was caught out of position, Beleskey scores. ‘Hawks lead 2-1
Kane scores off a beautiful feed from Toews...3-1 Chicago! His 6th of the playoffs.
Anaheim pulls their goalie and Chicago takes advantage...Toews gives it to Ladd and he makes it count...4-1 Chicago...
Chicago wins!!! 4-1 the series is tied at 3-3 headed back to the Windy City.
Shots Chicago 18...Anaheim 19

Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
Huet gets the start after being very solid last game...game 6 was the best Chicago has played...we played solid defensively and didn’t give Anaheim very many chances.

1st period
Halfway through the 1st period Niedermayer takes a tripping penalty
Dave Bolland wins the faceoff which goes right to Cam Barker who sends a 1 timer past Giguere...1-0 PP goal.
Chicago pouring it on in the 1st but Giguere playing well and keeping the Ducks in it.
Madden gets a pass from Versteeg in the slot, he beats Giguere but can’t beat the goal post...still 1-0
Solid 1st period for Chicago...12 shots to 3

2nd period
12 min left in the 2nd...Bobby Ryan gets called for tripping
Wisniewski gets a roughing penalty
Versteeg scores a PP goal...sweet feed from barker! 2-0 chicago
2-0 chicago at the end of 2
Shots
Chicago...26...anaheim 8

3rd period
Off a great forecheck the Blackhawks score..Hossa from Toews...11 minutes left in the period
3-0 chicago!
10 minutes left...Anaheim takes a penalty...Parros for slashing.
Toews gobbles up a rebound and then feeds Hossa in front for his 2nd of the game...PP goal...4-0!
Anaheim losing their cool....Wisniewski gets 2 minutes for roughing...terrible penalty
They kill it off but Niedermayer gets 2 for tripping...4 min left...Anaheim kills the penalty but it doesn’t matter as Chicago wins! 4-0 shutout...4-3 series win!
Dominating performance for Chicago...34 shots to Anaheim’s 12.

Toews was ridiculous in the series...17 points in 7 games...5 goals 12 assists
Kane had 11, hossa had 10 points. Huet played well in the last 2 games giving up just 1 goal.

Next opponent is the #8 seeded LA Kings who knocked off the #1 Minnesota Wild.