Dapper n' Drags, Hawks outlast Jacks in Shootout

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 00:54

By Dieter Kurtenbach

Back in the United Center for the first time in six games and taking on division foe the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first of six match ups this season, the Blackhawks were pushed to the limit and a bit further, finally putting the Jacks away in round 11 of a marathon shootout. The win was the eighth consecutive at the United Center for the Blackhawks and the 500th career win for head coach Joel Quenneville.

The first goal of the game was scored by Kris Versteeg on the penalty kill. Streaking into the Columbus zone from the right wing, Versteeg did not one, but two toe drag moves as he skated across the goal mouth before beating Columbus goalie Steve Mason. The goal was as sweet as the Blackhawks' jerseys, an updated version of the jerseys the Blackhawks wore in last season's Winter Classic they wore for the first time on Tuesday. The shorthanded goal was Versteeg's second and the sixth of the season for the Blackhawks, both figures are best in the league.

Columbus answered in the second period when a Kris Russellshot was mishandled by Huet. Traffic in front of the net eventually led to Antoine Vermette's eighth goal of the season, assisted by RJ Umberger.

Later in the second former Blackhawk Sami Pahlsson scored from the top of the left wing circle, putting a wrist shot over the glove hand of Huet. The forechecking Pahlsson found the puck wide open in the Blackhawks' zone when a clearing puck bounced of a glass partition and out into the middle of the ice.

Three minutes later the Blackhawks connected on a powerplay to tie the score. Patrick Kane, working the half boards, found a backdoor Patrick Sharp with a cross-ice pass. Mishandling the feed, Sharp adjusted and was somehow able to elevate the puck over an outstretched Mason. The puck was knocked on by Marian Hossa in front of the net, he was credited with his first assist as a Blackhawk on the play.

Kris Russell struck in the opening minute of the third periodfor Columbus. Entering the Chicago zone Umberger made a dump pass to the Blue Jackets' defenseman and Russell ripped a slap shot past Huet of a 3-2 lead. The secondary assist was credited to Vermette, marking the second time in the game the trifecta of Umberger, Vermette and Russell scored.

The Blackhawks had an entire period to answer, but only needed four minutes and three seconds. On the power play Duncan Keith fired a slap shot from the deep slot that was deflected several times in front of the net, ultimately by the skate of Jonathan Toews. The inadvertent blade direction was enough to fool Mason and the game remained tied until the end of regulation.

When four on four hockey bore no fruit the teams headed to the shootout. In the shootout Marian Hossa scored in the second round, but Jakub Voracek followed with a score in a make-or-go-home situation for Columbus. No player could beat either Huet or Mason until round 11 of the shootout when defenseman Brent Seabrook showed soft hands with a nifty forehand backhand move flicked over a sprawled Mason for the win.

Feathers in the Headdress

Third Star: Cristobal Huet

Huet only made 20 saves in regulation and the overtime period but was nearly unbeatable in the recess session following the game, making 10 saves and earning the Blackhawks the extra point, regardless of the merit. Even if Huet did give a point to the Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks came out with their two points because of Huet's one-on-one performance.

Second Star: Kris Versteeg

The goal was dirty enough to earn Versteeg the rest of the day off of work. Two toe drags in one goal = a early favorite for Blackhawks' goal of the year.

First Star: Brent Seabrook

Seabrook is clutch. With two game-winning overtime goals and now a marathon shootout winner Seabrook is the go-to guy when you need results in a bind. Seabrook also had five hits in the game and five blocked shots in the game.