Blackhawks Nearly Shut Out Havlat and the Minnesota Wild

Written by: EricC on 27th October 2009

It was a great night at the United Center for the Chicago Blackhawk’s final game of their four game homestand. Marty Havlat returned to the United Center with his new team, the Minnesota Wild. However, the Blackhawks knew his tricks and held the former forward off.

Dave Bolland came out about half way through the first period and put one in off a rebound from Andrew Ladd’s shot. Then, in the final seconds of the period, Troy Brouwer came sliding into a mix that had formed in front of the Minnesota net. Tomas Kopecky’s long shot bounced off a few players in the mess before sliding out just enough for Brouwer to tap it in, only seconds before the Blackhawks Power Play ended.

Despite a total of 17 shots between the two teams in the second period, there was no change in the score. Early in the third period, Minnesota finally got one past Huet during a Wild Power Play. The deficit was lowered to a single goal, but only for a few minutes. Nearly seven minutes into the third period, Patrick Kane came around the net, made a quick turn to his left, and shot, sending the puck into the net through the tiny area between the goalie and the top left corner of the net. Not only was this an absolutely amazing shot, but it was Kane’s 50th career goal! The Wild was unable to catch up after that.

Cristobal Huet was in the net again tonight, returning from his shut out against the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Huet almost had another shut out, but the Wild finally put one past him in the third period. Thanks to a great effort by Huet and the Blackhawks defense, Minnesota only had 21 shots the entire game.

The Chicago Blackhawks go up against the Nashville Predators again on Thursday, October 29 at 7:00 P.M. CT.