Blackhawks Force Game 7, With 6-3 Victory Over Blues

 The Chicago Blackhawks' record in Game 6's under Coach Joel Quenneville, was 14-1 coming into tonight's contest against the St. Louis Blues.  It wasn't easy, but the Blackhawks continued their winning ways as they had to come back from a 3-1 deficit, to defeat the Blues, 6-3. 

It started great for the Hawks as Andrew Ladd finally registered his first playoff goal, just 3:47 into the contest.  Andrew Desjardins couldn't connect on another goal as he missed an open net.  It just got uglier from there.  That same shift, Scottie Upshall scored to tie the game for the Blues on a 2-on-1 with Steve Ott.  Just 2:33 later, Alex Pietrangelo scored with a long shot from the point as Corey Crawford was screened on the play to give the Blues a 2-1 lead.  Just 2:09 after that goal, it was Vladimir Tarasenko, with his 4th goal of the series, to make it 3-1.  The period ended that way, with the Blues in very much control of the game.

One would have to wonder what was said in the Blackhawks locker room, but one can imagine.  The Hawks got a power play early in the period and Artem Anisimov tapped a loose rebound past Brian Elliott to bring the Hawks back to within 3-2.  Later in the period, Trevor van Riemsdyk joined a rush and tapped in a pass from Jonathan Toews to tie the game at 3.  Just under four minutes after that, Dale Weise scored his first goal as a Blackhawk, receiving a pass from Artemi Panarin, but not before planting Kevin Shattenkirk on his backside beforehand.  The Hawks would take a 4-3 lead into the locker room going into the 3rd.

The 3rd period was fast-paced, and anal-puckering as there were no goals for nearly 17 minutes in the period.  The Blackhawks went to the power play where Andrew Shaw, recently back from a one-game suspension, buried a Patick Kane pass beyond Elliott to give the Hawks a 5-3 cushion.  Marian Hossa would add an empty-net goal to send this series back to St. Louis for a winner-take-all to the 2nd round on Monday night.

Notable Mentions: Richard Panik and Dale Weise, both, had great all-around games for the Blackhawks.  Panik - 1A, 4 shots, 6 hits, 2 blocked shots.  Weise - 1G, 4 hits.  10 of the 12 forwards registered at least 1 point for the Hawks.  Brent Seabrook, quietly had 6 hits, 5 blocked shots, and 24:43 TOI.

Three Stars Of The Game
1st - CHI - Richard Panik - 1A, 4 shots, 6 hits, 2 blocked shots
2nd - CHI - Dale Weise - 1G, 4 hits
3rd - CHI - Andrew Ladd - 1G, 1A, 4 shots, 3 hits

Next Game: Monday, April 25, Away vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:30PM CT

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!