Chicago Gets A Must Win Over The Penguins In Shootout

Added on Feb 21, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

With 22,195 people looking on Sunday at the United Center, the Chicago Blackhawks kept their season alive with a shoot out win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defending Stanley Cup Champions are cutting it close. If they don’t find a way to put together a good streak soon they could find themselves mathematically eliminated from the post season. The Blackhawks are locked in a battle with a handful of teams for one of the final spots in the Western Conference’s Top 8 position.

Patrick Sharp, who netted his 31^st goal last night, said he believes in his team, and they aren’t about to give up. He said “We haven’t given up all year, we haven’t given up on this team since I’ve been here and I don’t think it’s going to start now. We feel like we’re a playoff team. We want to be there. It’s just a matter of earning it.”

They had to earn it last night, as they let a one goal lead slip away late in the third period when Brent Sterling’s third goal of the year got past Chicago’s goalie Corey Crawford. The game went into overtime, and both teams found themselves in a shoot out to decide the winner. Crawford held strong, and Patrick Kane was able to net the game winner. Kane said “Especially when you give up a goal with three minutes and change left in the third period, and you kind of give away that point, it was nice to get it back in the shootout for sure. I just tried to come down the middle and pull him to the one side and bring it back, I’m happy it worked obviously. Every game is important now.”

Jonathon Toews joked about how he thought Coach Joel Quenneville would have said about that tyinh goal. Coach Q is still in the hospital undergoing tests after he was admitted last week. Toews said “He was probably cussing at the refs or something. That’s a goal that we know he wouldn’t be happy about, so we’re not letting ourselves off the hook just because he wasn’t there. We’re definitely getting on each other.”

Even the normally stoic Crawford was fired up after the win, and he showed off more emotion then usual. He said “I don’t really care who it was who shot last. I was just so excited after it was done and we won.”

The Penguins have another injury to deal with as well. Jordan Staal left the ice in the third period when a rising shot caught him in the side of the head. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said the early indication is tha its not serious. He said “Staal gave me the thumbs up when I came into the room. I don’t know what that means, but I’m assuming that means he’s OK.”

The Chicago Blackhawks 30-23-6 (66pts), who are now 3rd in the Central Division will face the St Louis Blues (27-21-9, 63pts) tonight in St. Louis. The Pittsburgh Penguins 36-19-5(77pts), who are 2nd in the Atlantic Division will face the Washington Capitals 31-19-10 (72pts.)