Hawks Hold the Edge

(AP) Chicago, Illinois

The last report left us with the Ducks coming to Chicago and the United Center for game 3. As predicted the Ducks came out firing on all cylinders and it was a barnburner of a contest! Shanny and the Blackhawks opened the scoring in the last minute of the 1st on the power play. This proved to be the 'hawks only pp tally of the game. The pp had been the strength of the 'hawks during the regular season but not in the playoffs so far. At the end of the 1st it was 1-0 good guys.
From the 2nd period on the game turned into a see-saw contest with the lead changing hands 5 times!
In the 2nd Schneider, Gagne (pp) and Lecavalier (pp) struck for the Ducks with Roenick netting one for the 'hawks. As the 2nd came to an end it was 3-2 Ducks.
Early in the 3rd Roenick bagged his 2nd goal of the game and 4th of the playoffs to tie the score again. About 5 minutes later Allison answered for the Ducks to put them up once more. Roenick, flying all over the ice was not be outdone and completed his hat trick (pic-->) just 33 seconds later to give the 'hawks the lead. Then, in what was turning into the Allison-Roenick show, Allison struck again about three and a half minutes later to give the Ducks the lead!
In a startling turn of events the 'hawks starting netminder (Huet) tweaked his groin at the 19 minute mark of the 3rd. This hushed the rowdy fans in the United Center. Halak was inserted and given as much time as necessary to stretch and warmup. The whistle blew and 11 seconds later Ozo scored on a rush with Roenick and Shanny to tie the game with 49 ticks of the clock to go!!
OT was looming when suddenly Vinny Lecavalier stole the puck, raced in on a breakaway and lit the lamp on the only shot Halak faced!! The Ducks had taken the lead with 6 seconds to go! Halak slammed his stick across the crossbar in disgust. The game ended with the Ducks getting the much needed 6-5 win and handing Halak the loss.

The opening of Game4 at the United saw the 'hawks regular season leading scorer (Holik) unable to take to the ice. He had sustained a mild knee strain and it was decided not to let him play even though he had suited up. Kohn was called down from the pressbox to get a playoff start and lines were shuffled. Boy were they shuffled! The good news was that Huet was able to take his customary starting position between the pipes.
Game 4 was another close game with the line shuffling resulting in the 2nd line of Reinprecht-Roenick-Tucker being the story of this game. The trio combined for 3 goals and 4 assists with Roenick registering one goal and two assists while gritty Darcy Tucker lit the lamp twice! The 3 goals proved key in the 'hawks 5-3 win over Conklin and the Ducks. Cristobal Huet turned in another fine performance between the pipes for the 'hawks in stopping 40 of 43 shots. To date he is 3-0 in the playoffs with a 2.76 gaa and .926 SvPct.
Windy City Ramblings
Game 5 back in LA will see the return of Holik who has been cleared for play by the medical staff. He will most likely return to his #1 pivot position with Hrdina taking up his customary #2 pivot position.
Ducks' blueliner Bannister was hit hard into the boards by Tucker during the 1st period of Gm4 and did not return to the lineup. At press time it has been reported that he will most likely miss Gm5 in LA.
The Blackhawks hope to close out the series in LA. We're sure the Ducks will have something to say about that in front of their hometown fans!