Canucks beat ‘Hawks in OT, punch ticket to 2nd round

Alex Burrows scored two goals including the overtime winner as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 and advanced to the Conference Semi Finals Tuesday night.

Burrows foiled a clearing attempt by Chris Campoli with his glove, moved into the high slot and blasted a rolling puck into the top corner to end the game and the series.

This was the third time the two teams had met in the playoffs and the first time Vancouver had won.

Jonathan Toews scored the other goal in the game, his only one of the series.

Burrows continued his hot play from game six opening the scoring with his second of the series. Mason Raymond entered the zone and dished the puck to Ryan Kesler. The gritty centre broke towards the net with a head of steam before sliding the puck back to Burrows in the slot. Burrows buried it past the glove of Corey Crawford making it 1-0.

In the last two games, Burrows has three goals and two assists.

GAME SEVEN BOX SCORE

After not starting the previous game, Roberto Luongo was back in net for Vancouver and in fine form to boot. The former team captain silenced his critics from earlier games quickly and often. Making numerous saves to keep his team alive, Luongo once again looked like the goaltender which helped his team win the President’s Trophy.

Luongo made 31 saves on the night.

21 seconds into the third period Burrows scooped up a loose puck from the Vancouver zone and blazed down the centre of the ice out-skating Duncan Keith for a breakaway but was tripped and awarded the second penalty shot of the series. Burrows broke in wide, crossed the centre plain, and was stopped by the right pad of Crawford.

Vancouver had another chance to extend their lead to two at 14:53 of the third period. Chris Higgins out muscled his checker to make it in front of the net and force Crawford to make a sprawling save. While on the ground, the 26 year old Montreal native proceeded to stop Burrows and then Kesler from that position. Kesler did not record a goal in the series. Crawford made 36 saves.

With 3:16 remaining in the final period Keith took a hooking penalty which against all odds, spelled out the end of the Vancouver lead.

Brent Seabrook broke up a break out and tipped the puck to Toews. After running into a double team of Vancouver defencemen Toews passed it to Marian Hossa who lobbed a weak backhand shot on net. Luongo made the initial save but couldn’t control the rebound which went onto the stick of a falling Toews who finally recorded his first goal of the series and made the score 1-1.

Notes: After leaving Game 6 Cory Schneider was on the bench as the backup goalie…Tomas Kopecky and Bryan Bickell were scratched for Chicago…Sami Salo, Cody Hodgson, and Aaron Rome were scratched for Vancouver…15 players between the two teams have experience in Game 7 (three for Chicago, 12 for Vancouver).

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By: Alex Terry
Posted: Apr 27 2011 1:22 am
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Filed under: Hockey Sports Stanley Cup Playoffs
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