Calder beats Canucks at the buzzer
Associated Press
12/17/2002
CHICAGO (AP) - Give the Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Calder high marks for drama in ending an 0-for-29 power-play drought Tuesday night.
Calder banged in a power-play goal - Chicago's first in nine games - with one second left in regulation to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Calder swatted the puck past goalie Dan Cloutier from the edge of the crease after Alex Zhamnov had shot from the left point. The goal withstood a video review to verify the puck hadn't been kicked in.
``It was a big goal for the whole team and a big power-play goal for the whole team,'' Calder said. ``Alex just got it on net. I took a whack at it and it went in.''
With time running out, Zhamnov turned at the point and whipped the puck on goal. The play not only gave Chicago a win, but it's first goal during a manpower advantage since Nov. 30 in Los Angeles.
``I'm happy (the goal) was on the power play,'' Zhamnov said. ``Maybe that's what we need to do, just shoot the puck.''
The late power play was set up after Vancouver's Ed Jovanovski was sent off for roughing with 19 seconds left.
``I didn't (think it was the right call), but that doesn't make a bit of difference,'' said Vancouver coach Mark Crawford. ``We didn't get the kill and they ended up winning the game.''
Cloutier thought the puck might have been kicked in, despite the video review.
``It's tough to say,'' he explained. ``I last saw it at the last second. I thought he kicked it in, but I guess not.''
Chicago's Theo Fleury also was standing at the edge of the crease when Calder scored.
Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi one-timed in a power-play goal with 5:51 left in the third period to tie the game 2-2.
Matt Cooke also scored for the Canucks, whose three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) ended. Cloutier blocked 23 shots.
Jocelyn Thibault stopped 28 shots, and Mark Bell and Sergei Berezin scored goals 1:47 apart early in the second period for the Blackhawks.
Mike Eastwood, picked up on waivers from St. Louis last week, assisted on Chicago's first two goals.
Cooke opened the scoring with 5:32 left in the first period when he cut across the slot and beat Thibault with a wrist shot high on the glove side.
Bell tied it 1-1 at 2:24 of the second period. From 15 feet out, he one-timed Eastwood's centring pass and beat Cloutier high on the stick side.
Berezin gave Chicago a 2-1 lead 1:47 later After picking up a loose puck at centre ice, he skated over the blue-line and scored on a 45-foot slap shot from left wing.
The lead held up until Bertuzzi scored late in the game. Positioned on the right side of the slot, Bertuzzi whipped Markus Nasland's centring pass off Thibault's glove and into the net.
Notes: Chicago LW Chris Simon was a healthy scratch for the first time since being traded to Chicago from Washington on Nov. 1. Simon has gone 15 games without a point and in 22 games with the Blackhawks. He has just two goals and two assists this season. ... Eastwood earned his first two points - both assists - with the Blackhawks. He was claimed off waivers from St. Louis on Dec. 10. ... Vancouver D Mattias Ohlund missed the game with sprained knee; Canucks C Henrik Sedin also missed the contest with a sprained knee. Both are day-to-day.
Cheers,
Aquaman