RDS’s Renaud Lavoie is reporting the Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Jamal Mayers on a one-year contract extension.

The deal is said to be valued at $600,000 with Mayers receiving $50,000 of it up front as a signing bonus.  Those numbers are a slight raise from the $550,000 Mayers made in 2011-12 (the signing bonus on that deal was $25k).

Mayers turns 38 in October.

Used mostly as a fourth line center for the Blackhawks in 2011-12, Mayers played in 81 regular season games scoring 6 goals and 9 assists.  He was also a minus-4 with 91 penalty minutes.  Mayers was sometimes thrust into the role as Blackhawks enforcer as well since John Scott had trouble getting on the ice and when he was very few were dumb enough to fight him.

Mayers would now be the second free agent signing from last summer that Stan Bowman has given an extension.  You can make that three if you count Ray Emery, who was signed just prior to the start of the season in October.  Emery was given a new one-year deal on April 7th, nearly doubling his salary in the process from $600,000 to $1.15M.  Emery turns 30 in September.

Dan Carcillo was also brought in on a one-year deal, signed on July 1, 2011 for the sum of $775,000.  On March 12th, the Blackhawks signed Carcillo for another two years.  He’ll make $800,000 this next season and $850,000 in 2013-14.

Carcillo missed the final 43 games of the regular season and the playoff series with Phoenix after tearing the ACL in his left knee in a game against Edmonton on January 2.  He underwent surgery on January 17 and is expected to be fully recovered by late June.

Mayers was cast as a center all year long, a position he rarely played in his career.  While he was surprisingly good in the role, especially during the first few months of the season, Mayers tired in that demanding position as the season wore along.  It was evident his coach realized this as well.  Joel Quenneville scratched Mayers for the final three games of the playoff series with the Coyotes.

Its not at all a surprise Mayers is being brought back.  At 38, he’ll be best utilized however as a 12th/13th forward as a winger who can also slide over on the draw and take some key face offs when needed.  He’s a dependable vet who has a lot of respect from the guys in the room and around the league.

Other players headed for unrestricted free agency who don’t figure to return are Andrew Brunette, Brendan Morrison and Sean O’Donnell.  Brunette basically said after his exit interview that he didn’t much interest from the Hawks in bringing him back.  Morrison is said to be considering retirement and O’Donnell, while still serviceable to some teams, turns 41 in October.  Other unrestricted defensemen in Johnny Oduya and Sami Lepisto are also in limbo.  The Blackhawks are also now done paying goaltender Cristobal Huet.

The restricted free agents the Blackhawks either have to sign, tender qualifying offers to or set free into free agency are Carter Hutton, Ben Smith, Brandon Bollig, Chris DiDomenico and Simon Danis-Pepin.  Hutton, Smith and Bollig will be tendered offers if terms cannot be reached before the draft next month.  I’d expect DiDomenico will get some kind of offer but Danis-Pepin (a 2nd round pick in 2006) is likely done with the Hawks.

Bryan Bickell and Viktor Stalberg each have one year remaining on their existing contracts before they can be unrestricted free agents under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement.  That may or may not be an article the league will look to amend in the new CBA that will need to be in place before there is a 2012-13 season.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
PuckChatter@gmail.com
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

A few news items tonight but first a couple plugs…

–Our PuckChatter~Radio podcast returns this Tuesday night, May 29^th at 8pm central.  We’ll focus on our listener emails on the Blackhawks, IceHogs and prospects.  You can listen live that night at this link.  If you have a question or commentary you would like to contribute, send those to PuckChatter@gmail.com by Tuesday afternoon at the latest.

If you haven’t listened to our interview with Stephen Nelson from this past Tuesday night, I’d urge you to do so.  If you’re interested in the Blackhawks top prospects in Rockford especially this was a great show.  We’ve got a ton of feedback on the interview already, in particular Nelson’s candid account of Ben Smith’s relationship with Jimmy Newcomer, the 19-year old cancer-stricken Rockford area boy who sadly passed away a few weeks ago.  We’ll have more on Ben Smith this coming Tuesday night.

–I’ll be a guest on Hockeenight.com’s PuckCast on Sunday night, June 10^th to preview the 2012 NHL Draft taking place June 22-23 in Pittsburgh at the CONSOL Energy Center.  That’s shaping up to what could be a pretty active weekend for the Blackhawks.

Carruth going pro

Several outlets are now reporting the Chicago Blackhawks have signed goaltender Mac Carruth to a three-year entry level contract.  Carruth was selected 191^st overall by the Blackhawks in the seventh round of the 2010 Entry Draft.

RDS reporter Renaud Lavoie was first to report Carruth signed to a three-year deal with an NHL cap hit (under the current collective bargaining agreement) of $525,000 per season.  Lavoie has been first to report many prospects signing entry levels in the past.  The contract would be a two-way deal, so he’d make far less, in the neighborhood of $67,000 per while in the AHL or ECHL.  The Blackhawks needed to sign Carruth or he would have been eligible to for Draft re-entry. He can still return to junior hockey for one more season, be it with Portland or should a trade be worked out with another club.

While this deal has not been officially confirmed nor announced by the Blackhawks it should be shortly.  CapGeek.com has different, unconfirmed numbers on Carruth’s deal at this point.  Announcement or not, all signs point to Carruth leaving the Portland Winterhawks major junior organization in the WHL for pro hockey in the Blackhawks’ system.

Carruth would be penciled in for Toledo for the 2012-13 season should he go professional.  He is a native of Shorewood, Minnesota and had originally received a scholarship to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, but chose to go the major junior route instead.

It would be a good time for Carruth to leave Portland given that Brendan Burke, the son of former NHL goaltender and current Phoenix Coyotes goaltending coach Sean Burke, is entering his draft year and would be expected to push Carruth for the starting job in 2012-13.  Carruth has an overager year of junior eligibility remaining as a 20-year old.

A big (6-3, 185lbs) somewhat unorthodox netminder, Carruth was 42-17-2 for the Portland Winterhawks this past regular season.  His numbers weren’t impressive and wouldn’t be considering he gave up 4 or more goals in 17 of his 61 regular season starts in 2011-12.  Overall he had a .904 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average.

Carruth backstopped the Portland Winterhawks to within a win of the WHL Championship, losing in 7 games to the Edmonton Oil Kings.  In the WHL Finals series against Edmonton, Carruth gave up 21 goals in 7 games

Carruth started all 22 of Portland’s playoff games.  He was 15-6-1 (Overtime loss) with a 2.89 goals against average and .918 save percentage with 2 shutouts during the postseason.  A 4-1 loss to the Oil Kings in Game 7 on May 13^th also cost Portland a Memorial Cup.

In that 2010 draft, the Blackhawks took another goaltender, Kent Simpson, in the second round at the 58^th selection.  That pick was the Hawks’ third in the second round.

As we discussed with Stephen Nelson on this week’s Puck Chatter podcast, Simpson looked outstanding in the Rockford IceHogs season finale against Charlotte back on April 14^th.  Simpson stopped 38 of Charlotte’s 41 shots in an eventual 4-3 shootout defeat.

Simpson signed an amateur tryout contract with Rockford after his Everett Silvertips were swept out of the first round of the WHL playoffs.  He is also eligible to return to junior hockey for one final season at the age of 20.  Or, Simpson could sign with the Blackhawks and content for the backup job in Rockford.  Simpson has more of a modern traditional goaltending style and is slightly bigger than Carruth.

Although Simpson’s numbers have gone backwards since his draft year when he shared the workload in Everett, the Silvertips as a team have gotten worse since then.  Simpson was 20-31-2-5 with a 3.33 goals against and .909 save percentage this season.

If Simpson signs and goes pro too, it’s probably a final indicator that Alexander Salak won’t be back at all next season.  I can’t imagine the Blackhawks are wanting to pay Salak another $600,000 to play minor league hockey again next season.  Specifically to a guy that hasn’t endeared himself to the organization much since September.

Alec Richards has another year left on his current deal.  Carter Hutton will be re-signed and figures to be the guy in Rockford next season.  With the season Richards is coming off, I don’t see him even being counted on as the backup in Rockford.  That would have to be a job he’ll need to win.  So potentially you have Hutton, then Richards, Carruth, potentially a free agent and Kent Simpson as well all vying for the IceHogs backup job.  And then there’s the question of where does Salak wind up.

The Blackhawks also have Swedish prospect Johan Mattsson in the pipeline.  He just turned twenty at the end of April and is eligible to return to the Sudbury Wolves for a final junior season.  Mattsson was the backup goaltender for Sweden’s gold medal squad at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary this past January.  Mattsson’s 2011-12 season in Sudbury was underwhelming and even worse were his three appearances in Brampton’s four-game sweep of Sudbury in the first round of the OHL playoffs.  The Blackhawks selected Mattsson in the 7th round of the 2011 Draft.

–On Saturday, Brandon Saad is one of three finalists up for the Canadian Hockey League’s Sportsman of the Year award.  The CHL Awards ceremony takes place in Shawinigan, Quebec.  The CHL is the governing body encompassing the three major junior leagues; OHL, WHL and QMJHL.

Former Blackhawk winger Greg Gilbert, the head coach of the Saginaw Spirit, the team Brandon Saad played for, is up for CHL Coach of the Year.

Saad (LW) and Gilbert (as coach) were named to the OHL’s (Ontario Hockey League) First-team All-Star team.

–In news that is a couple weeks old now, the Blackhawks officially signed forward Rob Flick to a 3-year entry-level deal on May 15.

Flick had been in Rockford on an AHL deal during the 2011-12 season.

The Blackhawks retained Flick’s rights even though they passed on giving him an NHL contract right away when he turned pro last fall.  Andrew Shaw had the same deal before a series of circumstances led to Shaw blossoming into one of the IceHogs best forwards.  Then, at a time of need for the Blackhawks, and with no other real options ready in Rockford, they signed Shaw to an NHL deal on January 3^rd and he made his NHL debut in Philadelphia two nights later.

Flick scored 7 goals and 13 points in 44 games with the IceHogs.  Nearly all of that was in fourth-line duty.

He was Chicago’s 4^th round pick (120^th overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft.  After being drafted, Flick spent one more season with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors where he posted 27 goals and 57 points in 68 regular season contests.  He then appeared in the Memorial Cup (Mississauga having an automatic bid as host city). St. Michael’s lost to Saint John’s in the final.  Flick played against Andrew Shaw in the Memorial Cup as well as the OHL Finals in 2011 when the Owen Sound Attack bested Mississauga four games to three in a best-of-seven series to take the OHL Championship.

Flick’s first pro season got off to a rocky start and saw him bounce between Rockford and Toledo before he settled in and began making a firm impact on this ice in the latter third of the IceHogs season.

The feisty mix of Flick and Philippe Paradis on many nights in March was the driving source of the team’s energy and caused the opposition much anxiety.

Flick is more comfortable at center and played his best hockey there for Rockford.

–The Blackhawks also signed center Pete Leblanc to a one-year deal.  We’ve covered this one before but since the official numbers have become available.  That deal was made official on April 13^th.  He’ll make the NHL minimum (right now that is $525,000) if he plays for the Blackhawks and $70,000 when in an IceHogs uniform according to numbers listed at CapGeek.com.  That’s a huge pay raise for Leblanc who had been on an AHL contract the past two years in Rockford.

Leblanc was originally the Blackhawks 7^th round pick in the 2007 draft.  Leblanc posted career highs; 24 goals and 44 points in 72 games with the IceHogs in 2011-12.  He was a non-factor in an IceHogs uniform early on this past season before being sat out three straight games by coach Ted Dent.  From then on he was a key contributor on the IceHogs secondary scoring line.  Having Rostislav Olesz as a regular line mate didn’t hurt any either.  Leblanc was given a long look and survived until the last round of cuts in Blackhawks training camp last fall as a non-roster invitee.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
PuckChatter@gmail.com
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Stephen joined us to share his experiences working for, and with the Rockford IceHogs this past season.  He talked about his favorite players to work with and the new player profile feature he helped craft this season.

He also talked about the team’s early struggles experienced this past season and why Stephen always remained confident the IceHogs would turn things around.

Nelson gave us some behind the scenes insight on some of the top IceHogs and Blackhawks prospects including the special bond Ben Smith developed with the late Jimmy Newcomer, the 19-year old Rockford area kid who was suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer who Smith visited in the hospital late one night and remained in contact with up until Newcomer passed away a few weeks ago.

You can follow Stephen Nelson on Twitter: @Stephen__Nelson

Click the play button below to listen here in your browser, or….

Right-Click Here to Download the MP3 file

Download audio file (2012May22_PuckChatter_e107_StephenNelson_IceHogsTalk.mp3)

Links to the Bacon Buddies video segments, hosted by Stephen Nelson, we talked about on the show:

http://thethirdmanin.com/2012/04/03/icehogstv-hockey-flow-the-bobby-flick-and-three-stages-of-a-paradis-trick/

http://thethirdmanin.com/2012/03/07/brandon-pirri-and-jeremy-morin-talk-goal-celebrations-and-icehogs-fashion-sense/

Tune in next week when our show returns Tuesday night May 29th at 8pm central with more Blackhawks talk and a Stanley Cup Finals preview.

Check out our full show archive via….

BlogTalkRadio.com/TheThirdManIn – Feed

Subscribe to TheThirdManIn for free on ITunes

On this show recorded late Monday night, Dieter and I discussed the latest controversy surrounding Patrick Kane and what we think of the reaction it has garnered.  Dieter also gives his take on the state of the Blackhawks as well as what steps need to be taken moving forward to get this team back to the Cup.

Click the player below to listen here in your browser or…

Right-Click here to download the MP3 file

Download audio file (2012May14_PuckChatter_e106_DieterKurtenbach.mp3)

You can follow Dieter on Twitter: @DKurtenbach
And you can read Dieter at Sun-Sentinel Sports online

Well, that did happen on Tuesday as Joel Quenneville announced he had relieved assistant coach Mike Haviland of his duties effective immediately.

The Committed Indian and SecondCityHockey.com ‘s own Sam Fels joined me in this 75-minute edition of PuckChatter~Radio to discuss this and the rest of the (to this point) known fallout from another disappointing Blackhawks season.

Sam and I discuss why it was the popular Mike Haviland and not (now former) fellow assistant Mike Kitchen who got the axe.  Sam dishes his points of discontent with the job Joel Quenneville has been doing behind the Blackhawks bench and also his concerns with the recent Dave Bolland trade rumors.

We also break down the validity of the Ryan Suter speculation, the state of Niklas Hjalmarsson, if the ‘Hawks are truly in dire straights, Corey Crawford, the rest of the news of the week and much, much more.

Oh yeah, and one more thing -  Joel Quenneville’s confidential list of potential candidates he will choose from to replace Haviland….. which he claims he hasn’t started yet…. and once he does it will be a secret list…. However, he did tell us on Tuesday that Barry Smith is not on that list… which, again, is secret and not yet begun.

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Or, click the player below to listen here in your browser.

Download audio file (2012May08_PuckChatter_e105_SamFels_MindRiot_CoachQ_Axing.mp3)

I’m sure the rumored discord and power struggles emanating from Blackhawks Nation will be a topic of discussion, as will be today’s news of Joel Quenneville dismissing Mike Haviland from his duties as assistant to Quenneville.

You can listen live starting at 7pm central at this link.

The show will be uploaded as usual later tonight.

[Update: 10:10pm]

Here is the entire audio file from tonight’s show with Sam.

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We’ll put a full show preview/post together later.

Al Cimaglia of MyFoxChicago.com and Sirius/XM Radio joined me tonight for the latest edition of TheThirdManIn’s PuckChatter~Radio.

Al and I dissected the fallout from the Blackhawks second consecutive first round elimination, this time coming to the Phoenix Coyotes.

We analyzed what general manager Stan Bowman spotlighted as the areas his team faltered and also what he didn’t say.   We took a look at the supposed “core”, the Hawks’ inexcusable power play futility, Marian Hossa’s future, Phillip Danault, Dave Bolland, who is gone, Corey Crawford, if the goaltending should be upgraded and potential changes to the roster.

All this and much, much more in this sixty minute show.

Hit play below to listen or Right-Click Here to Download

Download audio file (2012Apr30_PuckChatter_e104_Al_Cimaglia_BlackhawksFallout.mp3)

TTMI / PuckChatter~Radio archive feed

Subscribe to TheThirdManIn on ITUNES

Our next live show comes on Tuesday night, May 8^th at 7pm central.  Our guest will be the illustrious Sam Fels of The Committed Indian and SecondCityHockey.com.

PuckChatter~Radio returns on Monday night at 7pm central with my guest Al Cimaglia of MyFoxChicago.com.

Join us Live at 7pm central over at BlogTalkRadio.com/TheThirdManIn.

Al and I will be recapping the Blackhawks-Coyotes series and Chicago’s second-consecutive quick playoff exit and analyze what went wrong.

We’ll take a look at all the issues the Blackhawks will be facing this summer, including if an upgrade is needed at the goaltending position.

Also, we will examine post season comments made by the players, Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman.

I’ll give my take on whether help is on its way from Rockford, who of the call-ups from this past season will start 2012-13 back in the minors and which 2011 ‘Hawks draft picks (excluding Andrew Shaw) have the best shot to make the Blackhawks straight out of training camp.

–For those who cannot listen live, Monday night’s show will be archived at our BlogTalkRadio page, here on our site as well as on Itunes.

–If you missed our recent, well-received Rockford IceHogs season-in-review interview series, you can listen to our chats with Ted Dent, Jeremy Morin, Joe Lavin and Kyle Beach here…..

–Jeremy Morin

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Download audio file (Interview_Morin_Jeremy_2012Apr14_am_YearReview.mp3)

–Kyle Beach

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–Joe Lavin, Rockford IceHogs’ Rookie of the Year

To listen, click the play button or Right-Click Here to Download

Download audio file (Interview_Lavin_Joe_2012Apr14_am.mp3)

–25-min chat w/Rockford IceHogs’ head coach Ted Dent

To listen, click the play button or Right-Click Here to Download

Download audio file (Interview_Dent_Ted_2012Apr14_Rockford_SeasonReview.mp3)

If you subscribe to TheThirdManIn / PuckChatter~Radio on Itunes, these interviews will automatically download to your Itunes as well.

For the full previews……

Our 25-minute season in review with IceHogs head coach Ted Dent

Chat with Rockford IceHogs rookie of the year, Joe Lavin

9-minute chat with Jeremy Morin on his concussion, frustrating season

Kyle Beach on his shoulder recovery, his training & future goals

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
PuckChatter@gmail.com
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Phoenix closed out their first round series win over the Chicago Blackhawks in front of a 39-save shutout by Coyotes’ goaltender Mike Smith. The ‘Hawks out-shot the visiting Coyotes 39-20 in the game but fell by a final score of 4-0. Rookie defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson opened the scoring in the second and assisted on another goal to help Phoenix pull away with three third period goals.

The Blackhawks dominated play in the opening period but came up empty on the scoreboard. They out-shot Phoenix 16-2 in the opening 20 minutes, winning foot races and board battles with consistency. Andrew Shaw, back in the line-up after serving a three-game suspension, had one of the best chances of the period by driving to the net and redirecting a pinpoint saucer pass from Patrick Kane.

Despite the one-sided opening frame, the teams dropped the puck for the second period scoreless. The ‘Hawks again carried play with prime scoring opportunities by Jonathan Toews on a strong drive to the net, Brendan Morrison with a weak one-time opportunity, and Niklas Hjalmarsson sending a heavy blast that Smith had trouble controlling. The Coyotes’ goaltender managed to snuff out each chance and soak up the rebounds.

The Phoenix power play was able to break the tie 13:14 into the second period. Oliver Ekman-Larsson sent a quick shot on net from the blue line and beat Corey Crawford to the blocker side. Martin Hanzal was positioned in front of the net and Crawford was unable to react in time for the hard shot from the rookie defenseman.

Chicago earned the second power play of the night late in the second period. The man advantage unit was unable to establish anything in the offensive zone as the second period wound down. Nick Leddy was able to get a couple shots on net before the penalty expired about a half minute into the third, but it was ultimately another fruitless power play for Chicago.

Gilbert Brule extended the lead a couple minutes later on a centering pass from Kyle Chipchura behind the net. Daymond Langkow kept the puck in the zone along the boards and crashed the front of the net, clearing room for Brule to hit the corner on Crawford’s glove side. The two-goal deficit took the wind out of the sails of the Blackhawks and the home crowd.

The series took another ugly turn when Jimmy Hayes finished his check into the numbers of Michal Rozsival along the end boards. Rozsival was anticipating contact to his left from Sharp, but did not see Hayes barreling towards him. The Coyotes’ defenseman remained face-down on the ice for a couple minutes but was able to make his way to the locker room under his own power.

Hayes was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit, effectively putting the Coyotes on the power play for almost half of the remaining regulation time. Although the ‘Hawks were able to kill over four minutes of the infraction, Phoenix eventually notched their second power play goal of the game off the stick of Antoine Vermette at 13:04 of the third. Ekman-Larsson sent the puck towards the net, where it was knocked down by Mikkel Boedker. He swept the puck over to Vermette, who had an open side of the net as all of the ‘Hawks searched for the puck.

The final tally was notched by Kyle Chipchura with about five minutes left in regulation. Brule’s centering pass missed Langkow, but Chipchura picked it up in the slot and beat Crawford high to the blocker side.

Game Notes

- Corey Crawford finished with 16 saves on 20 shots, with those four goals being the most he allowed in a game all series. Between the traffic on the power play goals and the quick strikes generated from behind the net, all four were difficult stops to make. He made big stops against Langkow in the second and Vrbata in the third to keep the ‘Hawks within striking distance, but ultimately did not have a great game or series.

- As has been the story throughout the series, special teams played a huge role. Phoenix scored twice on four opportunities, including the five-minute major. Chicago was held scoreless on their two last power play opportunities, stretching their struggles to 1-of-19 in the series.

- Rostislav Klesla missed most of the first period after catching a skate to the face on his way to the ice. He returned in the second with a full cage and his right eye nearly swollen shut.

- Patrick Kane earned a late game misconduct penalty with 2:50 left on the clock. The TV cameras caught him chirping at Kyle Chipchura, but little else.

- Injured winger Marian Hossa met with the team earlier today and attended the game at the United Center. Daily Herald beat writer Tim Sassone was also in attendance and welcomed back by the TV crew.

Brad Gardner

In addition to covering the Blackhawks for TheThirdManIn.com, Brad is also the Blackhawks correspondent at HockeysFuture.com.

All the traditional jerseys were worn and all the superstitions acted upon as the Chicago Blackhawks tried to stave off elimination in the 2012 NHL playoffs.  Captain Jonathan Toews took his team aside after the morning skate on Saturday with no coaches involved.  The message was quite clear, they needed the win from this road game and needed the stars to pick up their game and get a win, preferably in regulation.

The last four games have gone to overtime with Mikkel Boedker winning the last 2 in Chicago with two weak goals getting by Corey Crawford.  Whispers were in the air of veteran Ray Emery possibly getting the start for game five.  Coach Q made the announcement that they were sticking with Crawford.  Mike Smith was automatically in for the Coyotes.

Earlier in the afternoon it was decided that Raffi Torres would sit in a suit for 25 games.  He was suspended for his hit on Marian Hossa during the first period in Game 3.  Both teams had their say in regards to the suspension, but the Hawks were just happy the league was able to send a message and the Coyotes just wanted to continue to concentrate on getting through their first playoff round since being in Phoenix. 

Brendan Morrison remained in the line up for Jamal Mayers and Jimmy Hayes saw his name on the final roster as well.  Sami Lepisto came in on defense with both Sean O’Donnell and Dylan Olsen out.  Andrew Shaw was serving his last of his 3-game suspension for hitting Mike Smith in game 2.

Coach Q tried to play the role of magician not revealing his trickery early during warm-ups.  His opening line to start the period saw Toews centering Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell.  Patrick Kane was back at center with Patrick Sharp and 19 year old Brandon Saad.  Dave Bolland still played with Michael Frolik but Morrison found his way on the third line after scoring a timely goal last game.  Finally Marcus Kruger centered the fourth line with Andrew Brunette and Hayes.

The first period opened with Michael Frolik showing the Hawks he needs to be playing more.  He was hustling all over the ice, chasing icings and controlling the puck well.  Duncan Keith also had a great opportunity to open the scoring; however Smith was there with a big save.  Viktor Stalberg gets a great chance as he tries to slap it past Smith.  Sharp was physical hitting everyone that was in his path.  Hayes became noticeable with his puck control and time holding the puck in the offensive zone.  It didn’t take long for the first penalty to be called.  Just 13:39 into the first, Stalberg retaliates after a scrum in front of the net.  He takes that last hit on Adrian Aucoin and is shown the penalty box for two minutes.  The Hawks were able to stifle the Coyotes power play opportunity and kept the score at goose eggs.   Crawford was up for the pressure filled game as he stops Ray Whitney in close.  Finally the Hawks get a chance at the power play.  Although most of the fans are aware that the Hawks power play has been atrocious, this game would be a good time to get it in order.  Aucoin heads to the box for tripping Morrison as he was heading up the boards.  Brunette gets a great chance as he walks in but Smith is there to shut the door.   During the power play Derek Morris gets his stick up on Brunette giving the Hawks a two man advantage for 15 seconds.  Keith and Bolland both have a few chances to get the Hawks on the board, but are uneventful.  Phoenix did a great job blocking shots and allowing Smith to see everything else.  Toews tries to wrap the puck around the net, but Smith uses his post to post speed and denies him.  Coach Q starts to load up and change his line up reuniting Kane and Toews.  The period ends with the Hawks and Coyotes scoreless and the Hawks outshooting the Yotes 12-4.

Keith opened the second on his back sliding across the ice allowing Lauri Korpikoski to break in on a 2 on 1.  The Coyotes forward returned after missing both game 3 and 4 due to injury.  Crawford came up with a big save on Phoenix’s fifth shot on net.  At the 17:14 mark of the middle frame, Gilbert Brule and company, break in on a 4 on 1.  He elects to keep the puck and wires it over Crawford electrifying the crowd and giving the Yotes a 1-0 lead.  The line juggling act continued Saad found his way onto Bolland’s line with Frolik.  The Hawks D men must have been instructed to play a little more offensively tonight because both Keith and Brent Seabrook weren’t shy to jump up in the play.  Keith walked right through the middle getting a hot shot on Smith.  Hawks continued to pour it on.  Stalberg continues to turn up his pace.  He breaks in hard to the net trying to solve Smith.  Sharp continues his physical play.  He finishes a perfect check on Boyd Gordon sending him crashing awkwardly into the boards.  Crawford continues to keep the Hawks close making another good save on Marc-Antoine Pouliot.  Coach Q throws out his best card hand of the game.  He puts the straight flush line out with Marcus Kruger centering Andrew Brunette and Morrison.  This line caused the Hawks to scramble in their zone.  Michal Rozsival gets a wide open puck and fires hard on net.  Crawford comes out and flashes the leather robbing the Coyotes D man.  Stalberg gets himself in penalty trouble once again.  He is called for slashing a Yotes forward.  The Hawks killed a big penalty.  Just as the period is about to end Stalberg again gets called for a two minute minor.  This time it was a trip.  Coach Q was burning a hole in Stalberg’s jersey as he sat in the box once again.  The Hawks end the period down 1-0 with Phoenix tying the shots on net with 10 a piece.

The Hawks opened the third with Toews and Kruger on the penalty kill.  They had a great chance early to tie the game shorthanded, but Smith was there to keep the desert dogs up one.  The Hawks kill the penalty once again.  Kane and Sharp begin to heat up as they both get a scoring chance.  In order for this Hawks team to advance, these two players need to catch fire.  Keith again knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup as he again, as a great chance to tie the game.  Just 3:10 into the final frame, the ref’s arms flies up and calls another Hawks penalty.  Could it be?  Stalberg gets called for his fourth penalty of the game.  That’s right odd makers, not only was it his fourth penalty, he now had all of the Hawks penalties for the game and continued to get shifts.  The Coyotes were literally, licking their chops, to put the final nail in the Hawks coffin.  Crawford stood tall and the Hawks killed another man advantage keeping hope alive.  Now it was the Hawks turn to enjoy some power play time.  Antoine Vermette could not keep up with Nick Leddy and was called for slashing.  The dreaded PP, continued to make the fans cringe as they had trouble keeping it in the zone.  As the penalty expires, the Hawks get some great board work from youngster Saad.  He battles for the puck fighting off two Coyotes.  He finally gets the puck over to Frolik who finds a streaking Leddy.  He rips a shot that tips over Smith putting the Hawks on the board with 10:45 left in the game.  Saad gets his first NHL point with the assist and hard work.  Vermette was trying to catch Stalberg in penalty minutes as he gets called again for a huge cross check on Bickell.  Leddy had Smith down and gloveless and he snaps it high over the net.  The Hawks were all over Smith on this opportunity.  Shane Doan had a shorthanded chance at the other end.  He had Crawford beat but ran out of real estate and couldn’t tuck it home. Sharp is wide open in front of the net and Smith robs him point blank.  Coyotes captain Doan, again has a chance to bring the Coyotes to the second round.  Crawford is there to keep the score tied.  For the fifth time in this series and for the seventh time in a row for the Hawks, the game heads into overtime.

With dreams of the two letters O and T haunting Crawford for the last 2 weeks, the pressure was on the Hawks number one to be better and get his team the win.  The Coyotes got the first shot on net right off the faceoff.  Stalberg continued to be on the ice.  He gets a great chance to end it early.  Sharp also wants to be a playoff hero, but both stars are denied by Smith.  At the 17:16 mark of the extra period, Toews wins and offence faceoff.  Stalberg battles hard on the boards getting the puck to the captain.  Toews has nothing but a bowling alley in front of him.  He walks in toward Smith a puts a laser over Smith’s blocker winning the game and forcing a game 6 at the UC on Monday night.  The Hawks live to see another game!  The home crowd will be pumping on Monday night, momentum Hawks!

Quick Hits

-Hawks outshot the Coyotes 38-19.

-Both teams went 0 for 4 on the power play.

-Duncan Keith led all Hawks with 29:32 of TOI.

-Nick Leddy led the team with 5 shots on net.

-Toews was an absolute monster in the faceoff circle winning 14 of 18.

-Coach Q juggling the lines all game trying to find some chemistry.

-Andrew Shaw returns Monday night at the UC.  With Shaw returning, the coaching staff will have to make some important line changes.  Who will get to fill Hossa’s shoes?

-Game 6 is scheduled for Monday 8 pm

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