The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Calgary Flames on Sunday night at United Center in front of 21,192 fans in the third of four meetings this season. Rockford call up Jeremy Morin was in the lineup for Chicago for the first time since November 6, 2010. Morin suffered a concussion in a game for Rockford last January and didn’t return until October of this year. Sean O’Donnell and Sami Lepisto were healthy scratches for the Hawks. Dan Carcillo was also out of the lineup for the second straight game with an “upper body” injury. The Hawks got a big early hit from Jeremy Morin that got the Hawks going. Chicago got the first power play of game just over three minutes in. The Hawks got a couple of chances but Calgary killed the penalty. Chicago made it 1-0 when Calgary failed to get it out, Steve Montador snuck in from the point to the top of the circles, and blasted one by Mikka Kiprusoff at 9:23. Calgary got a power play of their own when Marian Hossa went off for high sticking. The Hawks killed the penalty for their 20th straight kill. Brent Seabrook took a dangerous hit from former Hawk Rene Bourque when Seabrook ran into the referee and was blindsided by Bourque while facing the boards at an awkward angle. Hello Brendan Shanahan. Bourque was assessed a 5 minute major on the play and a game misconduct. Marcus Kruger drew an interference penalty on the power play that nullified 2 minutes of the Hawks man advantage. The Hawks failed to convert on the remaining 5 minute penalty time in the first period. 25 seconds remained when the second period started. The Hawks outshot Calgary 9-3 in the first period.
Calgary killed the remaining 25 seconds of the 5 minute Bourque penalty but the Hawks went right back to the power play when Lee Stempniak went off for slashing. The Flames killed the penalty. Brent Seabrook did not return for the second period and was listed as out for the game with an “upper body” injury by the Hawks. This is not good news with Seabrook’s concussion history. The Hawks made the Flames pay for some sloppy play in their defensive zone when Niklas Hjalmarsson ripped one on net from the point that dribbled through Kiprusoff for a 2-0 Hawks lead at 5:15 of the second. The Hawks got another power play late in the second when Jonathan Toews was hauled down in the corner. Chris Butler went to the box for tripping and the Hawks went back to the man advantage. On a fast developing play off a faceoff win from Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane made it 3-0 when he beat Kiprusoff like a rented mule from the top of the circle. Cue Chelsea Dagger. The Flames got a late power play of their own shortly later when Dave Bolland went off for tripping. The Hawks killed the penalty to remain perfect in the last 7 games on the penalty kill. Shots were 8 apiece for the second period.
Ray Emery made a huge save to start the third period to keep the shutout bid intact. Right after Bryan Bickell took a huge hit from Cory Sarich. Bickell tracked down Sarich with the intent to fight and the mittens came off. Sarich got the better of the scrap and Bickell got an extra two minutes for instigating and a ten minute misconduct. Not exactly a smart decision up 3-0. Olli Jokinen had a good chance on the power play but Emery said no. Jokinen got the better of Emery later in the man advantage and made it a 3-1 game with a screen from Jarome Iginla. It was the first goal allowed by the Blackhawks on an opponent’s power play in 22 chances. On a cheap hit on Patrick Kane in front of the net the Flames got another penalty. They called T.J. Brodie for high sticking on the play. Mikka Kiprusoff robbed Patrick Sharp on the power play with a nice glove save. The Hawks got a two man advantage when Jarome Iginla got a bench minor for whining on the bench. Marian Hossa made the Flames pay for their whining with a two man advantage goal for a 4-1 Hawks lead. The Hawks continued on the power play 5 on 4. The Flames killed that penalty that was assessed to Brent Sutter for yapping at the official. The Flames would get a late power play with about 3 minutes left. Curtis Glencross quickly made it 4-2 as he popped the water bottle left open in front. The goal was at 16:25 of the third period. The Hawks would be short again when Michael Frolik went off for tripping. Chicago killed the power play and Calgary pulled Mikka Kiprusoff. The Hawks finished off the Flames for a 4-2 win and Coach Joel Quenneville’s 600th career win.
Chicago improved to a National Hockey League leading 21-8-4 and 11-2-3 on home ice. The Hawks will play the high flying Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. Coach Q, fresh off his 600th career victory, said after the game that Seabrook seems ok and he hopes he makes the trip to Pittsburgh.
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