CHICAGO -- Redemption is a soothing balm indeed, even in the bruising NHL playoff wars. Kris Versteeg was hearing the catcalls from the stands. The Chicago winger had misfired on a couple of shots early and was pressing for his first goal of the playoffs. It didn't help that his Blackhawks had already been blown out of Game 1 against the Canucks at home Saturday night and were down 2-1 in the second game on Monday. In the second period, Versteeg broke his stick on one shift and dropped it to the ice before skating off. Before the next whistle, two Vancouver passes hit the stick as it lay on the ice, knocking the passes away from their intended targets. The 22,000 fans in the United Center were getting grumpy with their team, and Versteeg was an easy target. Before the linesman could remove the broken stick and before the organist could start playing once the play stopped, a loud fan, acknowledging the passes that were deflected by the stick, yelled, "Hey, Versteeg, best shift you've had all night."
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