The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Steel City on Tuesday night in a nationally televised game on Versus. Brent Seabrook returned to the lineup after leaving Sunday night’s game against Calgary after taking a hit from behind from Rene Borque and going head first into the glass. Borque was suspended two games for the hit. Ray Emery got the start in net for the Blackhawks and Marc-Andre Fleury got the nod for the Penguins. Sean O’Donnell and Sami Lepisto were scratches for the Hawks along with Dan Carcillo who didn’t make the trip.
Chicago came out flying and had 3 good early scoring chances including a Michael Frolik backhand off the crossbar. Pittsburgh got the game’s first power play when Nick Leddy went off for interference at 6:11. The Blackhawks nearly scored shorthanded as they came on a 3 on 2 breakaway with a big shot from Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews nearly put in the rebound. The Hawks killed the penalty and did not allow a shot on the Pittsburgh man advantage. Shortly after, Marcus Kruger took a vicious elbow that John Scott took offense to and pounded in Deryk Engelland’s face. The zebras missed the elbow but called Scott for instigating and Pittsburgh went back to the power play. Scott also got a 10 minute misconduct.
Chris Kunitz cashed in on the power play and it was 1-0 Penguins. Pittsburgh got another power play when Patrick Kane went off for hooking. The Hawks killed the third Pittsburgh power play of the period. The Hawks got a late power play when Jason Williams went off for tripping. The Penguins outshot the Hawks 13-10 in the period.
The Hawks had just over 30 seconds of carryover time to start the second period which the Penguins killed. Marcus Kruger did not return for the second period after the dirty hit in the first. James Neal made it 2-0 Pittsburgh at 2:45 on a 2 on 1 break beating Emery. Shortly after, Patrick Kane went off again for hooking. Chicago killed the fourth Pittsburgh power play of the night. The Penguins would get a fifth power play because every time Malkin touched the puck the zebras felt obliged to call something. This time it was Dave Bolland going off for hooking. The power play was nullified on another dirty Penguins hit when James Neal left his feet to make a hit on Duncan Keith. Pittsburgh killed the shortened Hawks power play and it remained 2-0 Penguins. After the power play time expired Bryan Bickell got Malkin with a high stick and Pittsburgh went on their 6th power play of the game. Bickell was given an extra 2 minutes because Malkin was cut on the play. Pittsburgh took a penalty for cross checking Seabrook. James Neal was the dirty Penguin again. Penalty came at 16:15 of the third. Tyler Kennedy scored in 4 on 4 hockey to make it 3-0 Penguins. The Hawks killed off the remaining power play time. The Penguins outshot Chicago 11-9 in the second period.
Viktor Stalberg got the Hawks on the board less than a minute into the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. Jonathan Toews was later credited with the goal. The referees missed a high stick on Andrew Brunette and you think in a game that power plays are 7-1 the Hawks could get a bone! The Hawks like a team possessed by the bad officiating made it 3-2 early in the third. The goal was scored by Viktor Stalberg at 6:12. Stalberg ripped one off the right post minutes later and the game remained 3-2. Stalberg hit the post again with under 4 minutes to play. The Hawks FINALLY got a power play with under 2 minutes to play when Patrick Kane was blatantly hauled down by James Neal at 18:31. Coach Quenneville pulled Emery for the power play to give the Hawks a 6 on 4. The Hawks had their chances but couldn’t dent Fleury. Chicago outshot Pittsburgh 19-4 in the third period.
Not much to say after this one other than 7-2 power play disadvantage didn’t help at all. The Hawks will return home and play Montreal tomorrow night.
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