Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Posted: 9:49 p.m.Updated: 11:10 p.m.
By Tracey Myers
CSNChicago.com
The Chicago Blackhawks felt they got the raw end of an officials call on Tuesday in Montreal. On Wednesday it looked like the got the benefit of a big one.
Marian Hossa was awarded a goal on the ice and Toronto let the call stand, and Jonathan Toews scored the overtime winner as the Blackhawks came back to beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 at the United Center on Wednesday night.
Watch: Toews knows it's do or die for Blackhawks
The Blackhawks will likely end the night in eighth place, as Anaheim was beating San Jose and has more regulationovertime victories. But on the night Patrick Sharp returned from a left knee injury, it looked like the Blackhawks wouldnt manage one point.
David Backes put the Blues up 1-0 just 17 seconds in and T.J. Oshie added one 66 seconds into the second. Then came the controversy. With about 12 minutes left in the second the Blackhawks scrambled to hit the puck past Ty Conklin and Hossa was awarded the goal on the ice. Replays showed Hossa kicking the puck in, with it barely crossing the line. But after a lengthy review in Toronto, the goal stood.
Officials ruled the puck hit the post on Hossas kick, then came out and Hossas stick touched the puck and it rolled across the line. There was inconclusive evidence to overrule the on-ice call.
Both Hossa and I didnt think it was in but the ref was standing right there and he pointed and he said all four guys had it as a goal on the ice, Sharp said. I guess they got it right.
NHL
Watch: Keith gives thoughts on the goal review
Coach Joel Quenneville said I think it was inconclusive on a couple of fronts. The call on the ice was a good goal, so you had to prove it wasnt, and the call on the ice was probably going to stand either way. Nothing showed that it wasnt or it was, and I think thats why it stood.
Conklin felt otherwise.
They called it a goal on the ice, which is fine, thats understandable. But the reason we have video replay is to get the right call. Theyre probably going to make it into the playoffs anyway, but do we really have to make it that obvious that the league wants them in? he said. It was a close play, but the puck never crossed the line.
The Blackhawks got two more that period from Tomas Kopecky and Nick Leddy but St. Louis wasnt going away. Chris Stewart scored midway through the third period to force overtime before Toews got the winner, his 32nd goal of the season.
St. Louis was determined to end our season. Obviously they had nothing to lose, said Toews. Well take (goals) any way we can. It doesnt matter who scores. As long as they go in somehow well take them.
Welcome back
Watch: Sharp on his return
Sharp gave his healing left knee a go for about 10 minutes on Tuesday and about twice that Wednesday morning.
Was it fully healed? Probably not. But at this time of year, Sharp wasnt going to sit on the sidelines any longer.
Sharp came back after missing the last seven games with a knee injury, playing nearly 20 minutes and tallying an assist in the Blackhawks 4-3 overtime victory over St. Louis on Wednesday. Sharp said he felt rusty and wouldve liked to have had a practice with his teammates prior to Wednesdays game. But he was going regardless.
I just think its that time of year when you do what you can to help the team and I definitely felt better, Sharp said. Mentally Im past the injury and just focused on what I can do to get us in the playoffs.
Its that time of year that I dont think anybodys 100 percent out there, Sharp continued. You do what it takes.
Watch: Quenneville on Sharp's return
Yes, Sharp is gutting it out. And asked if he wouldve started Sharp if this were game 40 instead of game 80, coach Joel Quenneville said, probably not.
He had some good jump in his game and brought a lot of spirit to our team and energy as well, Quenneville said. It was good to have him back.
Leddy points
Leddy had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks on Wednesday. Quenneville said the 20-year-old has had strong outings lately.
It was a nice shot, a great shot, Quenneville said of Leddys goal, his fourth of the season. He had poise, patience and hes really picked up his game the last two nights.
Fun with Marty
Marty Turco had a little fun with a Montreal fan on Tuesday night, winning and losing a 5 bet in the Blackhawks 2-1 overtime loss to the Canadiens. The fan called into Team 990 Montreal after that game to relate the story.
Coach Joel Quenneville said Wednesday that the Blackhawks were going to deal with it internally. Quenneville looked more amused than anything in addressing it.
Well leave it at that, he said with a grin.
Briefly
Marcus Kruger and John Scott were the healthy scratches on Wednesday night.
Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.