Blackhawks hang on to edge Maple Leafs

Chicago 3, Toronto 2

Canwest News Service

Published: Friday, November 13, 2009

Chicago, IL - Cristobal Huet was sharp with 29 saves and Troy Brouwer's second-period goal wound up as the game-winner, as Chicago got by Toronto, 3-2, at United Center.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (R) battles Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith for the puck in the second period of their NHL hockey game in Chicago, November 13, 2009.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (R) battles Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith for the puck in the second period of their NHL hockey game in Chicago, November 13, 2009.

Photograph by : Reuters

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Patrick Kane and John Madden had first-period goals for the Blackhawks, who won their sixth in a row at home, improving to 3-0 on a four-game homestand in the process.

Phil Kessel notched both goals for the Maple Leafs, who lost their second straight game after gaining at least a point in the previous seven. Vesa Toskala nearly matched the effort of Huet with 31 saves.

Kane got things started 3:22 in, picking the pocket of Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn in the Toronto zone, and wheeling around for a quick wrister that found the top right corner.

A pair of heavy-handed shots gave the 'Hawks a 3-0 advantage with Madden lighting the lamp at 13:20 of the first and Brouwer's power-play tally coming 5 1/2 minutes into the second.

Kessel scored the next two goals to bring Toronto back within one.

First with just over two minutes to go in the middle frame, and then 5:33 into the third on an incredible individual play.

Kessel weaved his way through the neutral zone, skating parallel with the blue line. He crested the right circle and snapped off a blistering wrister that beat Huet over the near shoulder.

But that's as far as the Leafs would get as Huet turned back all but one of Toronto's 11 shots in the third period.

Game Notes

Toronto returns home to face Calgary on Saturday while Chicago ends its homestand with a clash against the Sharks...Kessel, now has five goals in four career games versus the Blackhawks...Kane has six goals on the year while Kessel has four in only five games...Chicago's Duncan Keith registered two assists.

 
 
 
 
 

your comments
myohmy
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 12:33 AM
what is this useless team going to do...it cannot be coaching so let's blame goaltending..tomorrow let's barbaque toskala once again.but we are heading in the right direction..to the celler that is where everyone but mgmt thought we would be
Dave
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 01:25 AM
As I've been saying ever since MLSE hired Burke, We are doomed, Burke is only a legend in his own mind....Fire Burke, Fire Wilson, hire someone with some insight and forget the big ego, we need another goal scorer (assuming Kessel is one), and we need our draft picks back somehow. Burke has screwed us!
gainey and burke
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 01:58 AM
Clueless meets dumb and dumber.
Fan
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 02:02 AM
Stop playing Schenn while he's struggling. His mistakes are causing him to lose confidence even more. The best thing to do would be to send him to the minors to work on his game.
hector
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 02:27 AM
Us Leaf fans were thinking that the first 10 games of the year was just a slump that every team goes through. As the season continues we are finding out that they really do suck.
hector
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 02:29 AM
And if Kessel continues to play like he has, he is worth the draft pics even if one is a first over all.
burt sandwich
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 08:58 AM
i absolutely hate the leafs, but kessel is great to watch. i loved that goal off the crossbar. it'll be good too, because he's all they have so he'll get lots of time with the puck.
Ex-Leaf Fan
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 09:10 AM
This ship sailed in the summer. It is full of leaks and now it is starting to capsize. Burke and WIlson have done nothing to improve this team. They are more concerned about their image. Both have got to go before this thing gets turned around. Kessel is good, but is he really worth that they gave up especially if they still claim Toskola is their #1 goalie? R U kidding me?
Must admit about Kessel
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 09:50 AM
He can "shoot the puck" and he is doing it alone, with little help from his AHL teamates. Imagine how dominating he could be if he had a "good feeder". His shot is lethal and quick.
Hakker Chekker Charger
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:13 AM
Kessel is playing with bums! For his sake, sure hope he doesn't start impersonating them - all in the name of fellowship.
?
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:52 AM
Dear Blackhawks, hope you enjoy your early Christmas present. Love, the refs.
ruku
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:54 AM
Another shining example of where Burkes wisdom has taken us....into the crapper. Fire Wilson and Burke and maybe just maybe we can salvage this season.
?
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:56 AM
And no Hector, some of us leaf fans realized this team sucked a long time ago. Still, the only way chicago was able to put up a 3-0 lead was because of one sided calls in the first period, add in that no-goal. Unlucky game for the Leafs.
ruku
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:56 AM
Stop blaming the refs, why is it that a huge contingent of our fans continue to blame the refs for the leafs abominal play?
?
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 11:07 AM
Because last night they missed a goal and made terrible calls. I haven't blamed the refs once before this season.
Danny
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 11:29 AM
Yet another clasic case of NHL officials taking a game away from Toronto. The anti-Leaf sentiment is incedible in this league. The proof is right there in taking a key goal away.
Claude
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 11:43 AM
The Leafs lose the goal because there was no conclusive proof. Just like there is no conclusive proof that the Lesfs are a NHL level team. They should not be in the league. It is not fair to fans in every city they go in to pay for that level of talent.
joe from calgary
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 12:32 PM
An afternoon poem to for my many fans........laff fans feel a game they were stole, they claimed they scored a phantom goal. Truth is they suck in all 3 ice zones,they need to stop giving each other rusty trombones.
Righty on Danny
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 02:36 PM
Now the refs are out to get the Leafs. Guess those flu shots did not work after all. Cowards for taking them away from sick kids. As for the refs screwing the Leafs, comical to say the least. Toronto would still have a goose egg in the win column if the refs had not given them 15 power plays against Anaheim. The sense of entitlement in Toronto must dictate that the Leafs have at least 10 per game right. Maybe its not the refs, maybe the problem is simple no talent, bad coaching, worse management.
@joe from calgary
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 03:43 PM
What a complete and utter loser.
RE: RUKU
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 11:09 PM
You bring up a good point. The Leaf's problem isn't the refs. It's the fans themselves, they keep going to these 'GONG SHOW ' games getting fleeched of their hard earned money every time.STOP SUPPORTING THIS GONG SHOW !! SEND A MESSAGE TO MANAGEMENT---WITH EMPTY SEATS !!
@RE: RUKU
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 01:21 PM
Save your breath cause Leaf fans won't listen. Their unconditional love & support for this bad team is a "SICKNESS" - which seems to be untreatable. Ever watch a bad zombie movie; "All those drones slumbering about aimlessly"? THAT'S LEAF FANS DOING THE SLUMBER TO AND FROM LOSING HOCKEY GAMES! Faces painted donning an assortment of blue and white attire with flags draped over slumping shoulders. I see them all the time and it's a shameful and pitiful sight. Thankfully I'm one of the few cured of this madness; I don't even watch the games anymore.
RE;@ RE; RUKU (I:21PM )
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 06:15 PM
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON MY VIEW !!
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