Chicago forward Dustin Byfuglien was all over the Vancouver
Canucks, creating havoc in the crease and on the score sheet.
Byfuglien banged in a pair of power-play rebounds and
completed his hat trick in the third period to lift the Blackhawks
to a 5-2 win over the Canucks and a 2-1 lead in the Western
Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.
“He was in the middle of everything,'' said Marian
Hossa, who scored 7:45 into the third period to give Chicago a 4-2
lead. “He's dominating in the corners, in the physical
department, and I think he was frustrating their team.''
Dismissed by the Canucks before the series as a non-factor
despite scoring two of his three career playoff goals against them
last season, Byfuglien was the biggest factor in putting Chicago
ahead in the series for the first time.
Moved back up front and onto the top line after playing
defense in Game 2, the 6-foot-4, 257-pound Byfuglien went hard to
the net all night, tucking in power-play rebounds in the first and
second periods. He was credited with his third goal with 6:02 left
after pushing Roberto Luongo into his net, leaving the goalie upset
and the Canucks pledging retaliation.
“I think so,'' Byfuglien said when asked if he was
throwing the Canucks off their game. “They've got to worry
about me coming and worry about getting hit.''
The Canucks seemed most worried about clearing Byfuglien out
of Luongo's face. Byfuglien doesn't expect that to happen.
“No, I don't think so,'' he said.
If not, Luongo would like to see his teammates at least make
life just as difficult for his Chicago counterpart. Antti Niemi
made 16 of his 31 saves in the first period, but didn't have to
fight through nearly as much traffic.
“If they do it on us and it’s not being called,
we have to do the same thing on the other side to at least get it
even up as far as advantages are concerned,'' said Luongo, who
finished with 30 saves. “We have to get some traffic.''
Kris Versteeg opened the scoring 5:19 in as the Blackhawks
picked up where they left off with a third-period comeback in Game
2.
“We built a lot of confidence in Game 2, but we knew it
didn't mean much if we didn't come and keep playing the same way,''
said Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, who had three assists.
“We did a lot of good things and put them on their heels for
the most part.''
Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows scored for the Canucks, who
will try to even the series when they host Game 4 on Friday night.
Vancouver will have to do a better job on special teams and
against Byfuglien.
“We're going to have to do a better job of protecting
the front of our net,'' Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said.
“At the same time, we know what's being allowed and permitted
on the ice in front of the nets and we have to do the same thing.''
Byfuglien started the series on the fourth line and moved to
defense in Game 2, but he shifted to the top line with Toews and
Patrick Kane. But as he did in last year's series against
Vancouver, Byfuglien took his usual position in front of the net on
the power play and made the Canucks pay.
Pointless in his first eight playoff games, he lifted in a
power-play rebound with 3:13 left in the first period after Toews
won a faceoff cleanly and Luongo bobbled Duncan Keith's unscreened
shot from the point.
Hansen pulled the Canucks within a goal midway through the
second, but Burrows took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty two
minutes later. Byfuglien then lifted in another rebound after Toews
drove to the net along the goal line.
“Big Buff, he's doing what he's got to do, he's
crashing,'' Toews said. “When there is a puck race or a
battle, their players definitely know he's there and give him a
little more respect, so it’s good for whoever is playing with
him. Just try to make plays and get pucks to the net and you saw
what happens.''
Burrows made up for the undisciplined penalty by snapping a
wrist shot from the slot under Niemi's blocker off the rush with 54
seconds left in the period. But any hope of Vancouver adding to an
NHL-leading 13 third-period comebacks ended when Hossa beat Shane
O'Brien to a rebound for an easy goal at 7:45.
Byfuglien, who skated along the end boards taunting the crowd
after his second goal, was back in the spotlight — and on top
of Luongo — for the third. Luongo was in position to make the
save before Byfuglien pushed him into the net, but the goal —
orginally given to Kane — was upheld after a video review.
Byfuglien doesn't think he is getting Luongo off his game,
but he admitted that seeing the goalie talking to the officials
could mean he is getting close.
“He doesn't like to talk too much, but he's not afraid
to,'' Byfuglien said. “When he does, I think it means you are
getting into his head, I guess,'' he said.
NOTES: To make room for Byfuglien, Chicago scratched
Vancouver native Troy Brouwer, who scored 22 goals in the regular
season but was pointless in eight playoff games. D Jordan Hendry,
who played Game 1 but sat out Game 2, took Byfuglien's place on the
third defense pairing alongside Brent Sopel. ... Fourth line
Vancouver C Ryan Johnson returned after missing a month because of
a broken foot, but the shot-blocking, penalty-killing specialist
was on the ice for the first goal. He also lost the faceoff cleanly
to Toews on the second. Speedy rookie Michael Grabner, who scored
in Game 1 but played just 4:19 in Game 2, was scratched to make
room for Johnson.
