Three periods just isn't enough for the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins these days. For the third time in four Stanley Cup Finals games, the two teams needed extra time to settle their differences.
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask entered Game 4 red-hot, having just shut out the prolific Blackhawks in a 2-0 Game 3 win that had Boston poised to put a stranglehold on the series. Chicago would not held down offensively again, though, ripping Rask for six goals in regulation and overtime.
The goals came from all over the place, spread out amongst Chicago's litany of talented scorers. No Blackhawk scored more than once; Michal Handzus, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marcus Kruger, Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook all shared the load of trying to conquer Boston's mighty goaltender.
Seabrook's slap shot sealed the deal in the extra period, and after the dramatic win he talked about how Chicago planned to get their offense going. "One of things we have talked about: Get pucks to the net," said Seabrook. "I just tried getting it on net, we had a great screen in front. ... It just found a way."
The Blackhawks were far and away the more aggressive team, unloading 47 shots on goal to Boston's 33. That number might be a bit alarming to Chicago, seeing as how their netminder, Corey Crawford, allowed just one less goal than Rask despite facing 14 fewer attempts.
Seabrook chalked up the high scoring to plain old chance. "Both teams are so great defensively. Both have great goalies," Seabrook said. "I don't know; it was one of those games. They got some goals on the power play, we got some bounces. It was nice to get some past Tuukka."
The series will shift back to Chicago on Saturday for a pivotal Game 5.
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