Chicago wrapped up its western road swing tonight in Vancouver, British Columbia with a 3-1 win. The Hawks finished the trip 3-0, also winning in both Edmonton and Calgary. They're now off until Dec. 26 when they host Philadelphia.
Here's the transcript to the live blog for those who want to take a look back:
As usual, the refresh button will be your best friend if you'd like to follow along, and I encourage you to leave a comment or two while you're at it!
11:32 p.m.: The horn sounds, and that's it. Chicago 3, Vancouver 1, final. The young Hawks weathered the storm at the energetic GM Place. A real character win for them. They remain just five points back of Detroit, still with a game in hand. Hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for stopping by!
11:30 p.m.: That makes for a great segue! Toews will be signing autographs at the Millenium Verizon Wireless Store at State and Monroe on Monday, Dec. 22 from 3 to 4 p.m. Those who attend will also have a chance to win tickets to the Winter Classic.
11:28 p.m.: With Sanford on the bench, Jonathan Toews throws a dribbler into the empty net! Just 32 seconds remaining. Chicago's about to win its SEVENTH straight for the first time since 1981.
11:27 p.m.: Penalty over. Crunch time now. 1:45 and counting.
11:24 p.m.: Mattias Ohlund just missed on a short-handed try. He was left open in front of the net but fired wide.
11:22 p.m.: Willie Mitchell is off for interference. Tough, tough time to take a penalty for VAN, who seemed to be putting on tons of pressure.
11:21 p.m.: Canucks really pouring it on now. Pavel Demitra has a good chance but is stopped by Huet. Five minutes to go. Can the Blackhawks hold on?
11:16 p.m.: Huet turns away a backhand by Steve Bernier, parked just three feet in front of him. Now just seven minutes to go.
11:12 p.m.: Blocked shots, sticks in their face and sound clearing attempts, the Canucks had ZERO shots on that power-play opportunity. 11 minutes to go in regulation.
11:07 p.m.: First penalty of the third. Duncan Keith gets two for flipping the puck over the glass while in the defensive zone. May not like it, but that's delay of game every time.
11:04 p.m.: Martin Havlat stoned by Sanford on a 2-on-1. Looked like it was going to be a sure goal. Potential game-changing save...remember that one.
10:58 p.m.: Final period just starting. Hawks come out flying, Sanford is forced to make two big saves in the first minute.
10:53 p.m.: Shots 23-23 after two. Don't say this often, but Huet's been the difference so far. Should be a good third between two of the West's best.
10:42 p.m.: End of the second period. Chicago 2, Vancouver 1.
10:39 p.m.: Starting to open up a bit with chances both ways. About two minutes to play in the second, Hawks still up a goal.
10:35 p.m.: Huet calmly scoops up a loose puck with his glove. He's looking relaxed back there, much better than the first.
10:32 p.m.: Make that 0-for-5. Only one shot on goal that try. Good kill for the Hawks.
10:28 p.m.: Canucks PP is 0-for-4 so far, but they do have nine shots. This PP starts with a CHI clear.
10:26 p.m.: Dustin Byfuglien shoots wide on a breakaway! Frustration penalty after has him off to the box. Two for cross-checking.
10:25 p.m.: An interference call on Kane negates that. Some 4-on-4 hockey, then Chicago killed the rest of the Kaner penalty.
10:21 p.m.: Too many men on the ice called on VAN, that's a killer. Hawks can gain some real momentum here with a power-play goal..
10:17 p.m.: Canucks pick it up a bit after that second Chicago goal. Huet just made three nice saves.
10:12 p.m.: And as we see so often in the NHL, the Hawks come right back down the ice and Patrick Sharp with a quick wrister from the slot gives the
Hawks a 2-1 lead.
10:11 p.m.: Huet out of position again, what else is new, and the Canucks have an open net...but they fan on the shot, it grazes the post and sails wide.
10:07 p.m.: Patrick Kane accepts a pass from Ladd, flips the puck to his backhand and sends a shot over Sanford's shoulder. Nice-looking goal and just like that, it's 1-1. Just three minutes into the period.
10:05 p.m.: Two shots, but no goal, and the penalty is over. And Huet just stopped D. Sedin on a mini breakaway!
10:03 p.m.: Here we go. Canucks start on the PP.
10:00 p.m.: Shots are 11-10 Chicago after one, but Vancouver's had the best chances so far. Huet has looked a bit shaky. The second will start any moment.
9:45 p.m.: End of the first period. Vancouver 1, Chicago 0.
9:44 p.m.: Nothing going again. Just one shot on goal for that PP. And now Dave Bolland's off to the box as the penalties continue. Only 24 seconds on the clock, so this penalty time should carry over to the second.
9:40 p.m.: Another penalty to Vancouver. O'Brien is off for holding the stick with just over two minutes left in the first. Chicago has a good chance to tie the score here and they seem to be gaining their legs.
9:39 p.m.: Hockey Night in Canada just highlighted Brent Seabrook. Apparently he's from British Columbia...says tonight feels like a home game for him despite wearing the away sweater.
9:36 p.m.: Nothing going there. No big chances and we're back to even strength.
9:33 p.m.: The penalty kill seems to give Chicago some momentum. Andrew Ladd draws a penalty with some great forechecking and Kevin Bieksa is off for two minutes.
9:29 p.m.: A brief stoppage to repair some broken glass, but back underway. And the Hawks PK does its job - successfully killed off the penalty.
9:26 p.m.: Sanford's staying in the game, but the PP goes to the home team, who by the way looks very sharp in their retro third jerseys - blue sweaters with green stripes and a hockey stick logo slapped on the chest.
9:24 p.m.: Don't like to see this. Sanford is down, appears to be injured, after colliding with his own defenseman Shane O'Brien. They're giving Troy Brouwer a penalty on the play, apparently for being tangled up with O'Brien.
9:22 p.m.: The bodies are starting to fly and the intensity is picking up. Good thing too because it's been kind of a slow start besides Vancouver's early barrage of chances.
9:19 p.m.: Canucks with a few good chances, they're playing hard here in the early going. Shots are 4-1 VAN, about five minutes in.
9:15 p.m.: Daniel Sedin lights the lamp early on a fortuitous bounce in front of the net. That's what you get for parking yourself there. Chicago D has to do a better job of clearing him out. 1-0 VAN just 3:45 in.
9:14 p.m.: We're under way at General Motors Place. Kind of quiet in the early going to be honest. Teams still feeling each other out a bit.
9:09 p.m.: Got to do a prediction. Despite Chicago's great play recently, the Canucks organization is still on a high from the news about Sundin
and I think they will ride that energy. I'm going with Vancouver 4-3 in OT.
9:05 p.m.: Cristobal Huet gets the start for Chicago (17-6-7, 41 points),
fourth in the Western Conference. The Canucks (18-11-3, 39 points),
fifth in the West, are playing their first game since acquiring
big-name free agent Mats Sundin, but he won't be in the lineup. Curtis Sanford gets the nod in net for them.
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Craig Kanalley
Craig is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., home of the chicken wing, frigid winters, the Sabres and the Bills. He is a major league sports fan and most closely follows hockey. More
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