Morning Box Score: 'Hawks Chuck Canucks

By Benjy Lipsman in News on May 12, 2009 2:40PM

For the first time since 1995, the Blackhawks will be playing in the Western Conference Finals after eliminating the Vancouver Canucks in six games, with a 7-5 victory at the United Center on Monday night.

Facing elimination, the Canucks scored first when when Mason Raymond slipped a wrist shot past 'Hawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, but Patrick Kane countered with the first of his three goals to end the first period 1-1. A pair of power play goals by Kris Versteeg and Jonathan Toews gave Chicago a 3-1 lead midway through the second period, but Vancouver tied the game with two goals of their own. In a wild third period the teams traded goals, with the Canucks taking a 4-3 lead before the 'Hawks tied it. With less than eight minutes left to play, Vancouver capitalized on a power play situation to take a 5-4 lead on a Daniel Sedin score. Less than two minutes later, a pair of goals by Kane and Jonathan Toews gave the 'Hawks the lead for good. Completing his first career hat trick, Kane scored the final goal to give the Blackhawks the 7-5 final.

"Best game of my life? I don't know what else would be up there with a hat trick in an elimination game of the Stanley Cup playoffs,'' said Kane afterward.

Having finished off Vancouver, the 'Hawks now await the winner of the Detroit-Anaheim series, with the Red Wings currently holding a 3-2 advantage. So practice your "Detroit Sucks!" chant. [Ed's Note: Congressman Quigley sure is. - M.G.]