In a New Year’s Eve showdown, the top teams in the East and West meet. Chicago hosts NJ at the “Madhouse on Madison”. Brodeur backstops the defensive minded Devils and their boring style of play. In net for the Hawks, Huet comes off an atrocious outing, allowing 4 goals in 10 shots against the Stars’ before being pulled.
Game Recap:
Huet and the Hawks bounced back from a poor outing to shut down the Devils on home ice. Huet took a shut out bid late into the game, only to be thwarted on a Langenbrunner goal with 1:33 left in the game. Langenbrunner stripped Keith of the puck deep in the Hawks’ zone. Uncharacteristic of Dunc.
On the offensive end, the Hawks got balanced scoring from Brouwer, Eager, Ladd, Toews and Madden. To put a 5 spot up against Brodeur is a big accomplishment. Brodeur and Co. just came off a big Conference win the previous night, shutting out Pittsburgh.
Johnny Toews had a nice individual effort on his goal early in the second period, stripping the puck from defenseman Johnny Oduya and beating Broudeur in alone. Madden scored the fifth and final goal of the game, beating Brodeur , his former teammate of nine years, with a wrist shot.
All and all, the Hawks generated good traffic to the net and had a definite advantage in puck possession the entire game. The speed of Chicago seemed to wear down the Devils and made this win look easy. Another team win and a complete performance from all.
Game Notes:
- Niklas Hjalmarsson was struck with a puck while on the bench early in the third period and left the game.
- Toews has two goals and eight assists in his last five games
- The Blackhawks signed D Shawn Lalonde, their second pick in the 2008 draft (68th overall) to a three-year contract on Thursday.Not sure if there is anything behind this signing as the timing is unusual.
- The Hawks outshot NJ 36-27, only allowing the Devils 5 shots on goal in the 3rd..
MVB (Most Valuable Blackhawk):
Cristobal Huet – a nice return from a poor performance just 2 nights previous. Carried the shut out to the final 93 seconds of the game.