Western Conference Final Game 4 Breakdown

Everybody knew San Jose would be in desperation mode in a must-win elimination game. The Blackhawks did a good job of keeping things under control to start the game, even with Hendry’s holding penalty at 5:02 into the game. The great penalty kill line had a nice shift with contributions from Hossa and Toews, a big save by Niemi, and blocks from Seabrook and Hossa. With 8:50 left in the first the Sharks scored the first goal of the game off the stick of Couture. Setoguchi threw the puck to the net and Couture potted the rebound over the glove of Niemi. The Hawks didn’t get a power play until the middle of the second period, but to no avail. It was the Sharks who would score the short-handed goal. Marleau blasted a one-timer from Vlasic past Niemi. This deflated the UC for some time and it was Ben Eager who smashed Heatley for his second big hit of the game in an attempt to get the crowd back into the game. The Hawks missed another power play opportunity after Heatley was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Toews was sent to his respective box shortly after for a cross-check that took place right in front of the net. The Hawks netted their first goal with 6:42 left in the second. Seakbrook scored with a little help from Hjalmarsson and Versteeg. Dave Bolland tied it up at 2 with 1:22 left in the second. He made a great fundamentally-pack play starting from behind the net. He raced to the puck and lifted Couture’s stick off of the puck. He then got good body position to box Couture out and was able to bring to puck to the front of the net on the other side. He elevated the puck, which was redirected by a Shark and got past the glove-side shoulder of Nabokov. In the third, The Hawks were given three straight power plays. Boyle was called for delay of game, Clowe was guilty of holding, both of which were penalty kills, and Heatley went to the box for slashing. It was on the third and final power play that Byfuglien potted his third game-winning goal in four games. Kane got the primary assist as Toews received the secondary and extended his franchise record for consecutive postseason games with a point to 13. Steeger put the cherry on top with an unassisted empty-netter with :42 left in the game. The boys in the Indian-head sweaters are headed back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 in the hopes to break the 39 year drought!

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