Two goals in this game? TRADE HIM. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)
The question was inevitable, no matter how hard we tried to avoid it: How would the Chicago Blackhawks respond to the return of Raffi Torres to the Phoenix Coyotes lineup after serving his 21-game suspension for this hit on Marian Hossa?
Jamal Mayers began the answer to that question when he dropped the gloves with Torres early in the first period.
Well, what do you know? Mayers punched Torres a couple of times to get it out of both teams’ systems early. It’s like I’m psychic or something.
What happened after that?
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Four goals in the first period! Ah-ah-ah! That includes two goals on two five-on-three situations, because the Coyotes couldn’t resist taking five penalties in a row.
After the Coyotes’ Martin Hanzal put his team on the board in the second period, Jonathan Toews decided to destroy any sort of self-worth the Coyotes might have had with this beauty:
He completely undresses Oliver Ekman-Larsson before going five-hole on Mike Smith, keeping the game completely out of reach for the Coyotes. Another goal by Bryan Bickell ended Smith’s night with Jason LaBarbera coming in to relieve him.
Torres got on the board with a late goal in the third period, but the outcome of the game was set before the third even began. The Blackhawks dictated play throughout, and they routed the Coyotes soundly.
Excellent. Now let’s never speak of Torres again.
