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Chicago Blackhawks Take Down Stanley Cup Champs in Over Time

Written by: EricC on 6th December 2009

Saturday night was this season’s only Regular Season match up between the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Hawks capitalized on their opportunity. These two teams will not play again this season unless they both make it to the Stanley Cup, but at the moment, this is looking like a very real possibility.

The Blackhawks received a blessing, finding out that Sidney Crosby, Captain of the Penguins, would not be playing, due to a recent injury. The Blackhawks played a great game, holding the Penguins to zero goals, until the final minutes of play. Antti Niemi, standing guard between the poles, deserves a ton of the credit for this, near Shut Out. However, Kris Versteeg was the one who put that final goal in for Chicago during the Over Time.

Marian Hossa received boos from the Pittsburgh fans as soon as he stepped onto that ice during the opening minutes of play. Hossa, formerly a Penguin, left the team to play for Detroit. However, he really shut them up when he put in the Blackhawk’s first goal during the seventh minute of play. That goal remained the only goal on the board until the final minute and a half of regular time. With less than two minutes to spare, the Penguins pulled their goalie to gain an extra man, and it unfortunately proved to be a smart move.

There had been an exchange of 60 shots between the two teams as they were heading into Over Time. The Penguins only got one shot off during the two and a half minutes of Over Time, but the Blackhawks got three, finally putting one of those in. Versteeg, fighting off defenders, barely slipped it past Marc Andre Fleury for the win.

Niemi was incredible out there!! Not only did he walk away with 32 saves and almost a Shut Out, but he had some amazing saves. Niemi, barely known before the season started, has really made his name a common term amongst Hawks fans.

The Blackhawks get a couple of days of rest before taking on the New York Rangers this Wednesday, December 9, 7:30 P.M. CT.

Don’t forget to Enter for the chance to Win a Blackhawks Pennant Autographed by Kris Versteeg!