Saturday, May 23, 2009

Blackhawks Draw One Back

Well, the Blackhawks managed to pull one out of the bag at home, proving to everyone that they aren't quite finished with the playoffs just yet. The Hawks had to take the Red Wings into overtime to get the job done, but they now only sit one game behind in the series. The final score in Chicago last night was 4-3.

The game did a number on the pool as well, shrinking the lead to 5 points, as Steve W. continues to chase down Mike D. in these Conference Finals. The final two money positions have some new occupants after the game on Friday night, as Brad W. and Trevor B. took the third and fourth spots, respectively, with the Blackhawks win.

PhotobucketLeading the way for the Hawks in Game 3 was Patrick Sharp, who collected two goals, including the winner, for a 3-point night in the pool. Sharp was a pretty popular pick in Box 5 for the Hawks, he was taken 15 times. Also having a good night for the Blackhawks was Samuel Pahlsson, who ended up with a goal and an assist.

Only one Red Wings player had a multiple-point night and that was Marian Hossa, who had a pair of assists in the game.

Well, if you're asking where the win was for Nikolai Khabibulin, well, he didn't come away with the statistical win. Khabibulin did not come out onto the ice for the third period after allowing 3 goals on 18 shots, leaving the game to Cristobel Huet to finish the third and the 1:52 of overtime. The word on Khabibulin was that he left the game with a lower body injury. That wasn't the only injury that the Blackhawks suffered, as they lost Martin Havlat to a crushing check by Niklas Kronwall in the first period. It looked as though Havlat suffered a concussion due to the hit and Kronwall was ejected from the game after a five minute major for interference.

The Red Wings were also without Pavel Datsyuk, who was sat down to heal a bruised foot, which he suffered in an earlier playoff game. Datsyuk had been skating, but decided against playing, just to be on the cautious side. You should likely expect him to go in Game 4, now that it has become a series.

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