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Canucks blow two-goal lead to Blackhawks in final 2:11 before Daniel Sedin scores OT winner

Hockey is a game that features the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. That was the case on Wednesday night against the Blackhawks in Chicago.

By Sean Larson
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

What a wild night in the Windy City. After seemingly having the game locked up with just over two minutes remaining, the Blackhawks scored a pair of goals in the span of 2:11 to send the game in regulation. But after the most frustrating end to a game all season, Daniel Sedin scored his second goal of the night during the overtime period to salvage the win.

Sedin also scored in the third period to put the Canucks up 4-2 for what seemed like a safe lead at the time.

After allowing the game's first goal, Eddie Lack once again looked sharp in net before letting by two goals that allowed the Blackhawks to walk away with a point. Lack made 39 saves in a game that featured a combined 77 shots on goal. Defense optional.

After another ugly night in Minnesota, the Canucks desperately needed to come out of Chicago with a win before heading back to Vancouver. Daniel Sedin provided them with just that as Vancouver avoided total disaster.

1st Period

The Blackhawks nearly scored in the opening minutes of the game when Patrick Sharp hit Brad Richards with a centering pass at the crease. Richards had an open net, but Linden Vey stepped in for a huge defensive play to knock the puck away and keep the game scoreless. Had it not been for Vey, the Blackhawks would've been on the board. And you knew the puns were coming.

A few minutes later, Chris Higgins gave the puck away, passing it right to Brad Richards and giving Chicago another great scoring chance. Patrick Kane then tried to set up Patrick Sharp, who had a wide open net. Sharp couldn't manage to get a shot off as Radim Vrbata got his stick in there, and the Canucks had dodged another bullet.

The Canucks had several good scoring chances on net during the opening period. Chris Higgins hit Radim Vrbata rushing into the slot, but Corey Crawford was able to come up with a nice save to stop the quick shot. Alex Edler had another good shot on net, and for a moment, lost the puck in his pads as he just laid down hoping it wasn't behind him.

In the final minute of the first period, Patrick Kane came up with a breakaway opportunity against Eddie Lack as he took a cross-ice pass from Bryan Bicker that ricocheted off the boards. Lack stood his ground and came up with a beautiful glove save, not even flinching a muscle to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.

2nd Period

The Blackhawks opened the scoring early in the 2nd period when Patrick Kane came up with a turnover in Vancouver's zone. Kane sent in a pass across the slot towards Brad Richards, but the puck would be deflected off the stick of Dan Hamhuis and into the net to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. The goal was Kane's 27th of the season and his 60th point.

The Canucks tied things up soon after as Radim Vrbata and Chris Higgins showed off some quick passing to hit Linden Vey for the goal, his first in 14 games.

After nearly scoring moments earlier, Bo Horvat gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead. Horvat initially had a great scoring chance when he came up with a loose puck in front of the net, but couldn't get a clean shot off. The Canucks maintained possession as Horvat was able to chop in a goal to put Vancouver ahead.

The Canucks found the net once again as Luca Sbisa blasted in a shot from the point towards the net. Zack Kassian was positioned in front of the net to deflect it in for his third goal in as many games. Say what you want about Kassian, but the dude has been playing with confidence lately and the results have been glorious, like when he actually shows emotion.

Late in the period, the Canucks killed off Chicago's first power play of the night, big considering Vancouver's recent struggles on the penalty kill. Jonathan Toews had a great scoring chance at the end of the advantage, but Eddie Lack was able to block the shot away to preserve Vancouver's two-goal lead heading into the final intermission.

3rd Period

Desperately needing a goal, the Blackhawks came up with one with just over seven minutes left in the game. After Daniel Sedin was sent off for hooking, Marian Hossa found the back of the net on a second chance. The puck deflected off Lack and right to Hossa to make it a 3-2 game.

With just under five minutes remaining in the game, Henrik Sedin was taken down on a breakaway chance by 5, drawing a delayed penalty. Before the Blackhawks could touch the puck, Alex Burrows hit Daniel Sedin who came streaking in for the goal. With the Blackhawks knocking at the door, it couldn't have come at a bigger moment.

With 3:35 to go and Radim Vrbata in the sin bin, the Blackhawks pulled Corey Crawford to go 6-on-4, needing a pair of goals. It would pay off as Duncan Keith sent in a shot from the blue line to make it 4-3 with 2:11 to go. Suddenly, the Blackhawks had life once again.

Then, with less than a minute left in regulation, Marian Hossa flew down the ice and beat Eddie Lack at a tough angle to tie the game.

Seriously, watch this speed burst.

Overtime

The Canucks were obviously frustrated they let this game go to overtime and didn't want to make the long flight back home knowing they blew a chance at a huge road win. Daniel Sedin made sure that wouldn't happen, scoring the game-winner at the end of a long shift, allowing everyone to breathe a big sigh of relief.

What's next? 

The Canucks return home to Vancouver to take on the Boston Bruins on Friday night at Rogers Arena. That's just the appetizer for a couple of big games against Calgary and Minnesota. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild few days with this team.

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