Canucks -Blackhawks: Vancouver Lets Game Four Slip Away as Chicago Evens Series

Just when you think you have this series figured out, there is another twist. 

Things appeared to be going smoothly for the Canucks throughout Game Four Thursday, as the Blackhawks were clearly on their heels and frustrated throughout this contest. 

A seemingly perfect road game for the Canucks, who through almost 58 minutes of hockey looked unstoppable. 

Unfortunately the game of hockey is 60 minutes—and the Canucks learned that the hard way on Thursday, as the Blackhawks stormed back to eventually win Game Four in overtime. 

The first period played right into Vancouver's hands as the Hawks came out looking to blow the roof off the United Centre—but the Canucks once again weathered the storm and kept the game tight.  It was a carbon copy of Game Three, as the Canucks took the lead in the second after two enormous saves by Roberto Luongo. 

A blocked shot by Ryan Johnson turned into a rush for Rick Rypien, who made a beautiful spin move to feed Darcy Hordichuk, who fired a shot through Khabibulin to put the Canucks up 1-0 through 40 minutes. 

The Canucks had never lost a game all playoff when leading after two periods.  It didn't look like anything could affect the outcome of this one—not the speed of Toews and Kane or even the presence of Dustin Byfuglien.  Though the Canucks were clearly sitting back in the third, the Hawks never really looked threatening as the young Blackhawks looked lost and unable to find an answer for Luongo—who was outstanding. 

That is, until the final two minutes of the game—when Willie Mitchell of all people made a costly mistake.  He had a chance to flip the puck up the middle, but instead chose to slap it off the boards to the waiting Hawks—who gladly intercepted the pass and fed in front to Havlat.

Havlat fired a shot that went off the stick of Mitchell and through Luongo for the tying goal. 

Mitchell made an uncharacteristic mistake, putting his stick out on the weak Havlat wrist shot that Luongo would have probably smothered easily had it not been for the tip. 

All of a sudden, the building was alive—and the energetic Hawks out of nowhere were back in the game.  In the dying seconds, the Blackhawks almost won it when Dave Bolland was in all alone. But thanks to some great back checking by Alex Edler, he was able to get enough of Bolland without taking a penalty, and the Canucks were able to get the game to overtime. 

In overtime, Khabibulin would make up for an earlier error as he stoned the likes of Henrik and Burrows point-blank to keep the Hawks alive.  Those saves proved to be huge, as on the rush up the ice Bolland took a wild shot off the side boards that was tipped in by Andrew Ladd in front to give the Hawks a 2-1 victory. 

So the series is now even going back to Vancouver for a critical Game Five. 

No doubt Vancouver let this game slip away—but it's one that they will have to erase from their memory bank very quickly, as it is imperative they win Game Five. 

A very noticeable statistic this evening was the faceoff-win percentage, as Ryan Johnson was the only Canuck who won more than 50 percent of his draws.  Dave Bolland, perhaps the best Hawk on this night, was 11 of 13 in the circle and a real presence all night on a Hawks team that, despite the win, did not look that impressive. 

Something else very noticeable tonight was the play of the Sedins, who—along with Sundin and his linemates—were almost invisible offensively in this one.  Though they never looked in danger throughout this game, Vancouver is going to need more from the Sedins and Sundin if they want to regain the momentum Saturday. 

Pavol Demitra missed his second straight game through injury and is unlikely to see any more action in this series.  Sami Salo, despite skating with the team in Chicago, did not play Thursday, and his status remains up in the air for Game Five at GM Place. 

Afterwards, Vigneault, while disappointed, said it was time to move on.

"We were a couple of minutes away from winning this game," Vigneault said. "It happened. We've got to deal with it and get ready for the next game." 

Game Five is Saturday evening at GM Place, as it has now come down to a best-of-three showdown.