After taking that big Torres hit in game 3, Seabrook was missing for the Blackhawks. They welcomed Bolland back into the line up and the United Centre. Chicago needed a big win to haul themselves into this series and hang in their by the skin of their teeth.
It only took Chicago 1.23 to take the lead. A backhanded chip down the boards from Frolik allowed Bickell to get a jump on Bieksa as he skated down the wing past him. He managed to cut across infront of Luongo and stuff it in far side on him .
Vancouver got the 1st powerplay chance of the evening, Bolland called at 3.39 for. A chance for them to improve on their series stat of 2/6 so far.
They did exactly this, a point shot from Edler was sailing well wide but hit Campbell in around the knees and redirected in behind Crawford. There was nothing the netminder could do and this was a bad bounce for Chicago after a good start.
Vancouver got back on the powerplay at 5.37, Keith sitting 2 minutes for cross checking. There was almost 2 minutes intense pressue from the Canucks but Chicago managed to keep them out with some good shot blocking and a goal line clearance from Hjalmarsson.
Around the 13th minute mark Luongo pulled off a fantastic pad save. As a long shot bounced off his chest to Stallberg infront he managed to keep his pads on the ice and stretch out a leg to stop the stuff in attempt.
Luongo continued to make saves all period, pulling off a big glove save off Toews with less than 2 minutes to go in the period and the teams went into the 2nd period tied at 1-1. The Blackhawks outshooting their opponenets 13-7.
Just over a minue into the 2nd period and Chicago were unlucky not to take the lead, Campbell firing a wrist shot off the post from inbetween the circles.
Chicago headed to their 1st powerplay opportunity at 3.06 with the Canucks being called for too many men on the ice. A few seconds after the penalty expired the Blackhawks took their 2nd lead of the night. Campbell to a pass by Kane and wristed a shot past Luongo with a good Toews screen infront of the netminder. Goal timed at 5.18
17 seconds later it was a 3-1 lead. The puck was fed out of the corner by and Keith just slapped the puck glove side on Luongo and the crowd erupted. Keith dropped to slide on his knees to celebrate as the Blackhawks finally seemed alive in the series.
The 2nd period blitz continued as Chicago made it 4-1 through Bolland. He picked up a loose puck on the wing, skated to between the hash marks and fired a wrist shot into the net. Bolland put himself on 1+2 for the evening, proving to be the scoring element that Chicago had missed.
It wa 5-1 before the end of the period, Chicago getting as many through 2 periods of this game as they had in the previous 3 in total. The goal came at 18.57 with Bolland chipping the puck past the Canucks defence as they pinched in, sending Frolik skating right in on Lungo. He pulled a deke and slid the puck into the net.
The Bolland, Frolik, Bickell line doing the damage through 2 periods, all 3 players having scored and Bolland now on 1+3.
It was 6-1 only 2.49 in the 3rd, Kane passing the puck circle to circle and Sharp absolutely hammering the one time shot past Luongo.
With tempers flaring up behind the Chicago net at 4.05 the Canucks made the decision to replace Luongo and give Schneider his first ice time of the series.
Frolik got his 2nd breakaway chance with around 7 minutes left, this time skating in all alone on Schneider. He stuck to his near post and Frolik couldn't find a move to put it past him, instead putting his shot into the leg pads of the netminder and the puck going tamely wide.
There was a penalty called just after this move at 13.09, Edler taking 2 for charging.
Goal 7 came on this powerplay with Sharp getting his 2nd of the game at 13.21. Hossa made the pass right across the crease for him to slam easily into the net and get his 2nd of the game and 3rd of the series.
Vancouver, already beaten on the scoreboard decided to get nasty in the 3rd and with 3.40 left a fight ensued. After a good hit by Stallberg on Bieksa he decided to take exception and both players dropped their gloves. A few quick punches and Stallberg was down on the ice, not getting chance to throw anything back at Bieksa.
Vancouver got one back 4 seconds later, Ehrhoff firing a shot wide of the net for Henrik Sedin to tip past Crawford. The goal coming on the powerplay after 16.24
The Canucks ended the game with 61 penalty minutes, 40 of them being wracked up b 10 minute misconduct penalties in the 3rd. LaPierre, Glass, Torres and Oreskovich all guilty of letting their emotions get to them.
The Blackhawks had killed this game as a contest with a 2nd period blast of 4 unaswered goals in what was one of the best periods of hockey i have seen so far during these playoffs. Vancouver were no were near as good as they had been but Chicago just upped their game to a different level. They needed to and they will need to another 3 times if they are going to pull off a shock comeback. It will be a tougher Canucks team that come out on home ice in game 5 and the Blackhawks will need to hit as hard as they did tonight, keep creating those quality chances and keep burying them. I still think Vancouver will win this in game 5. Chicago won't have the home crowd behind them and keeping the Sedin's relatively quiet 2 games running will be too muc for them. Luongo will be wanting to come back with a strong performance after conceeding 6 of the 7 goals in game 4. The home fans will be behind him come game 5 so don't expect him conceeding as many again in the series.
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