With the NHL on pause and the World Championship tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Second City Hockey will look back at Blackhawks playoff games since 2010 with an “On this date in Blackhawks history” series.
The Blackhawks blew a 2-0 lead against the Wild, but Patrick Kane scored two goals in the third period for a 5-2 win in Game 1 of the 2014 Western Conference semifinals.
Kane skated across the offensive zone and around Kyle Brodziak then roofed a backhand shot above Ilya Bryzgalov’s left shoulder for a 3-2 lead at 8:22 of the third. Patrick Sharp’s shot from the left point redirected off Ben Smith’s stick and between his legs to the left of the net for Kane, who made it 4-2 at 16:47.
Bryan Bickell scored into an empty net from the left boards at center ice for his second of the game with 2:41 remaining for the 5-2 final.
Marian Hossa had a goal and two assists, and Brent Seabrook and Sharp each had two assists for Chicago, which was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Corey Crawford made 30 saves.
Clayton Stoner and Brodziak scored for Minnesota. Bryzgalov made 17 saves in the loss.
Bickell scored a power-play goal for a 1-0 lead at 14:48 when he redirected Brent Seabrook’s blast from the point. Brandon Bollig appeared to double the lead when he knocked in the puck as it stayed in the crease with 2:44 remaining in the first, but the whistle blew before it crossed the goal line.
Brandon Saad weaved his way through the offensive zone then sent a pass between Bickell’s legs to Marian Hossa, who lifted it above Bryzgalov’s right pad for a power-play goal to make it 2-0 at 11:21 of the second period.
Minnesota scored two goals in a 4:37 span in the third period to tie it 2-2, and erase Chicago’s two-goal lead.
Crawford made the initial save on Stoner’s one-timer from the top of the left face-off circle at 2:19 of the third, but the puck went off Johnny Oduya’s left skate for Minnesota to cut the deficit to 2-1. Brodziak tied it 2-2 at 6:56 when he tapped in a centering pass from Erik Haula into a half open net.
Andrew Shaw left the game with a right leg injury near the midway point of the first period after a hit by Stoner.