BIG MOMENTS - May 9, 2009: CHI @ VAN

The plays that turn the tide in every game of playoff action -- that is what the beauty of hockey history is built on.

Check back every night following all the 2009 playoff action to witness NHL.com's game-changing moment from each game, as well as the rest of each game's goals, saves and hits.

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Thanks to all who voted -- and enjoy the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs!

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Chicago at Vancouver - Game 5

A) Byfuglien opens scoring - For the first time all series, the Chicago Blackhawks got on the scoreboard first. With 4:33 to go in the first period, Dustin Byfuglien opened the scoring in this crucial Game 5.

Kris Versteeg controlled the puck in the Canucks zone and fed a crisp pass to Brian Campbell at the point. Campbell one-timed a slap shot that was turned aside by Roberto Luongo. However, Luongo released a long rebound and Byfuglien was in the right spot at the right time to bury the puck into the empty net and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Byfuglien’s second goal of the playoffs wasn’t only the first time Chicago scored first in this series, but it also marked the first time the Hawks scored in the first period on Luongo.

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B) Mats' marker - With the game tied midway through the second period and Chicago getting the better of the play, the Canucks killed off a Hawks power play and waited for an opportunity to capitalize. That opportunity came when Troy Brouwer, waiting behind the Vancouver net, tried to make  a pass to Sammy Pahlsson at the blue line that wound up on the stick of Vancouver's Henrik Sedin, setting up an an odd-man rush for the Canucks.

Once in the Chicago zone, Sedin passed the puck across the ice to Mats Sundin who was waiting at the left wing boards. Sundin fired a shot from the top of the left circle past Nikolai Khabibulin, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead.

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C) A scrum and a score - With less than three minutes to play and Chicago trying to even the score, things got a little chippy. Kris Versteeg and Kevin Bieksa went at each other after a whistle, and eventually the action saw Matt Walker and Shane O’Brien drop their gloves. After all was cleaned up, Chicago ended up on a key power play.

With the man advantage, Troy Brouwer knocked down Ryan Kesler along the boards to keep the play alive. Seconds later, Kesler tried to clear the puck, but Brian Campbell kept it in and dished the puck to Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien inched closer to the goal and wristed a shot through Luongo’s five-hole using the screen of Brouwer.

Although he didn’t get credit for a point on the play, Troy Brouwer was a major contributor for the tying goal. From the Versteeg scrum to Byfuglien’s second goal of the game, Chicago grabbed plenty of momentum heading into the third period.

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D) Bulin Wall stops Kesler - Ryan Kesler, who had Vancouver's first goal, had the chance to be the hero late in the third period. Unfortunately for him, Nikolai Khabibulin had other ideas.

The Blackhawks were on a power play with less than seven minutes to go and the game tied 2-2. Cam Barker got caught pinching, allowing Kesler to lead a 2-on-1 break against Brian Campbell. Campbell held the middle perfectly to prevent a pass and forced Kesler to shoot short side. Khabibulin didn't overcommit to the potential pass and made an outstanding arm save on the snap shot, putting the puck into the screen.

Although Khabibulin only faced 21 shots in the game, this save kept the score tied -- and just over a minute later, the Hawks went ahead to stay on Dave Bolland's goal.

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E) Kane dishes, Bolland delivers - With the game tied and time winding down, Chicago had control of the puck in Vancouver's zone during a power play. Ryan Johnson took a backhander that looked lik a sure clear. But Patrick Kane snatched the puck out of the air at the blue line and came up with the puck again on a rebound seconds later.

Kane moved into the right circle and threw a perfect seam pass to Dave Bolland, who was waiting near the left dot. Bolland snapped the puck over Roberto Luongo for the go-ahead goal with 5:05 to go for the game-winner in the Hawks' 4-2 win in Game 5, giving them a chance to wrap up the series at home on Monday night.


FINAL SCORE: Blackhawks 4, Canucks 2

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