Gist on Ice: Blackhawks 6 Canucks 3

The Blackhawks did what they needed to do and left Vancouver with a split. At the end of the first period, things looked kind of bleak as the Hawks were down 2-0. They'd taken a lot of stupid penalties and just didn't look real sharp. But Patrick Sharp would score twice in the second to tie the game and the Hawks played their brand of hockey the rest of the way. Davey Bolland would give the Blackhawks the lead on a short-handed breakaway goal that I'm still skeeting over.

The good vibes continued in the third period as Ben Eager scored his first playoff goal, followed quickly by a tally from Patrick Kane to make it a 5 to 2 game. One of the dipshit Sedin twins would score in the third, bringing the Canucks within 2, but an empty net goal from Bolland would seal the deal for the Blackhawks at 6 to 3.

After allowing the first two goals in the first, the Bulin Wall was in full effect, making several spectacular stops to keep the game close, allowing the offense to claw back into it. More evidence of the continuing bad blood between these two teams reared its head in the third as Alex Burrows of the Canucks and Johnny Toews and Dustin Byfuglien of the Hawks earned 10 minute game misconducts in the last seven minutes. Toews earned his, but Big Buff's was complete bullshit, as he made a clean hit and then was grabbed from behind by another of the Canucks, as seen in the photo to the right.

The Hawks still have to play at least three more games with these assholes, so don't expect it to get any easier. The Calgary series was physical, but not malicious. This series only promises to get uglier. Hopefully the Hawks seize the home field advantage and take the next two games at the UC.