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Blackhawks Mon Apr 25 2011
Hawks Win in Overtime to Force Game 7
After more than 75 minutes of playoff hockey, the list of heroes was long for the Blackhawks last night at the United Center:
Dave Bolland, the third-line center just back from injury, whose forecheck created the turnover that led to Chicago's first goal, tying the score in the first period;
Patrick Kane, the dashing, mulleted man about town, whose quick thinking and quick wrists set up Bolland in the second period for another tying goal;
Michael Frolik, the right winger acquired mid-season, who tied it still a third time in the opening minutes of the third period with the first penalty-shot goal in Blackhawks playoff history;
Corey Crawford, the precocious rookie goalie, whose 32 saves helped Chicago force overtime and survive chance after chance for the top-seeded Canucks in the extra session;
And finally, at long last, Ben Smith, the little 22-year-old with the patchy beard, who scored on the rebound at 15:30 of overtime, giving the Blackhawks a 4-3 win that tied this first-round playoff series at three games apiece.
After a roller-coaster regular season, a humble No. 8 playoff seeding and three straight losses to open the series, there will be a Game 7 for the defending Stanley Cup champions. Tuesday in Vancouver, the Hawks will aim to become the fifth team in North American sports history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0.
