The Chicago Blackhawks played in what could have been classified as both a hockey game and a boxing match.

It was by far the most physical game Chicago has played this season, but the physical nature of the game didn’t get in the way of the Hawks controlling the game.

In fact it was so physical that Hawk players Cam Barker and Ben Eager were both ejected for game misconducts, and captain Jonathan Toews even dropped the gloves for only the second time of his career.

It was a night of cheap shots and huge checks. Probably the biggest checks of the game was  St Louis’ Mike Weaver’s hit on forward Patrick Sharp. Weaver hit Sharp center ice just as Sharp was looking up after getting control of the puck. The hit sent Sharp crashing to the ice and a retaliation by Cam Barker.

Patrick Kane was the butt of a cheap shot, a clearly evident forearm to the upper chest. No foul was called, but the Hawks knew that they were going to have to get more physical than usual.

No matter how physical the game is or how many hits a team laid on its opponents, all that matters is the score, and the Hawks beat the Blues in that category.

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