Blackhawks stave off elimination with Game 5 win

Patrick Kane scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, giving the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. With the win, the Blackhawks force a Game 6 matchup Saturday evening in the United Center.

The Chicago Blackhawks live to fight another day.

After blowing a 3-1 lead over the St. Louis Blues in the third period, the Blackhawks persevered and pulled out a 4-3 victory in double overtime after a Patrick Kane game-winning goal.. The Blues still lead the series 3-2, but the victory guarantees the Blackhawks at least one more game this season.

Puck drop for Game 6 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT Saturday night in the United Center.

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The Blackhawks opened the game’s scoring when Marian Hossa scored a shorthanded goal at the 11:32 mark of the second period. Hossa seemingly confused goalie Brian Elliott, beating the netminder glove side for his first playoff goal this season.

Less than a minute after Hossa’s goal though, Jaden Schwartz tied the game on a power play goal at the 12:29 mark. Schwartz sent an absolute blast past Corey Crawford from just outside of the left face-off dot, scoring his third goal of the playoffs.

It seemed that the Blackhawks had seized control of the game at the end of the second period after goals from Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin put them ahead 3-1.

Anisimov put home a rebound off of a Panarin shot from the left face-off dot with 4:36 remaining in the period, his second goal of the playoffs. Panarin’s goal came with just 0.4 remaining in the period, taking a slick Patrick Kane pass from behind the net in the slot and firing a one-timer past Elliott.

Similar to Game 3 though, the Blackhawks blew a third period lead, going scoreless in the period both games. Robby Fabbri and David Backes scored for the Blues, the latter of which came with just 5:10 remaining in the game.

Neither team could break through at the end of regulation or in the opening period of overtime, keeping the score tied at 3-3. However, the Blues out-shot the Blackhawks 14-6 in the third period and 11-7 in the opening overtime session.

Unlike many Blackhawks’ overtime playoff games of the past, the Hawks broke through early in the second period to win the game. Kane scored on a filthy move, deking Troy Brouwer to the ice before his initial shot. He then found his own rebound behind Elliott, scoring on a wide-open net to seal a Blackhawks’ victory.

While Kane’s heroics are not to be questioned, the Blackhawks nearly losing after blowing another third period lead needs to be. In fact, the team is lucky that the Blues could not break through, as St. Louis actually had a power play with under five minutes left in the third period of a tie game.

Looking ahead to Game 6, the Blackhawks have several things that they need to work on to stave off of elimination again. For one, they need to be smarter in terms of not taking dumb penalties, as the late third period penalty kill came after another Blackhawks’ too many men on the ice penalty.

Off that note, the Blackhawks also need to protect the puck much better Saturday than they did in Game 5, as they gave the puck away 10 times. For comparison’s sake, the Blues only had four giveaways.

Not only does the team need to play smarter with the puck, but they also need stars Jonathan Toews, Andrew Ladd and even Kane to show up and score already. Before Kane’s game-winner tonight, the Blackhawks had zero goals between these three players and Hossa, all offensive stars. Clearly, winning a game, let alone a series, will be difficult if this continues.

Next: Chicago Blackhawks preparing for a comeback

Right now though, the Blackhawks need only to look towards Game 6 and no further. If the team can tie the series at home on Saturday, the pressure instantly will turn to the Blues to finish off the Blackhawks and avoid blowing a 3-1 series lead. Game 6 is Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC. Tune in!

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