Blackhawks Steal Momentum, How Long Will It Last?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Trailing 3-0 in the series and facing a quick first round elimination from the playoffs, the defending Stanley Cup champions routed the Vancouver Canucks and sent the series back to Vancouver.
The first period ended with a 1-1 tie, but it was the four Chicago Blackhawk goals in the second period that shifted the momentum to the home squad, and that's where it stayed.
"Once we had the momentum," defenseman Duncan Keith said. "We didn't give them a chance to get it back."
Early in the second period, Brian Campbell gave the Blackhawks a one-goal lead. And 17 seconds later, Keith made it a two-goal lead and the rout was on.
"We've played well in spurts up until today," Keith said. "And we've just done things to lose the momentum and lose the momentum of the game and give it back to them. And tonight we didn't do that."
After stealing the momentum in Game 4, the first 20 minutes of Game 5 will go a long way in determining if Tuesday night was simply a parting gift to the fans, or the start of something else.
