National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Chicago 4, Phoenix 3
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Paul Devorski
Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Shane Heyer
Attendance: 17539


BLACKHAWKS 4, COYOTES 3 (OT): Bryan Bickell scored his second goal at 10:36 of overtime and visiting Chicago tied their Western Conference quarterfinal series at one game apiece.

Bickell received a puck in the slot that caromed off the skate of Viktor Stalberg and slipped a shot between the legs of Mike Smith to give the Blackhawks a dramatic win.

Phoenix was 5.5 seconds from grabbing a 2-0 series lead when Patrick Sharp deflected Brent Seabrook's shot from the point to force the extra session.

It was eerily similar to Game 1, when Seabrook tied it with 14.2 seconds in regulation, only to see the Coyotes prevail on Martin Hanzal's game-winner.

Bickell also opened the scoring and Brandon Bollig netted his first career goal for the Blackhawks, who halted a run of four straight losses to the Coyotes.

Corey Crawford turned aside 30 shots for Chicago, which will host Game 3 on Tuesday night and Game 4 on Thursday.

Antoine Vermette scored twice and Raffi Torres had a goal for Phoenix, which had won six straight before Chicago's stunning rally.

Coyotes netminder Mike Smith survived a near-knockout blow to the head in the second period and wound up with 46 saves.

Bickell put the Blackhawks on top with a power-play tally at the 3:05 mark of the first period, but Torres and Vermette scored five minutes apart to gives the Coyotes a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Bollig snapped a wrister past Smith at 6:56 of the second to deadlock it at 2-2, but the good vibes for Chicago lasted for all of 15 seconds before Andrew Shaw sent Smith sprawling to the ice behind the net with a shoulder to the head that nearly ripped the goalie's facemask off.

Shaw drew a misconduct and five-minute major penalty, leading to Vermette's second goal on the ensuing power play, a wrister past a screened Crawford at 8:41 to put Phoenix in front.

The Coyotes could almost taste a 2-0 series lead until Sharp's last-second tally sent the game into overtime

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hanzal, the hero of Game 1, hobbled off the ice on his third shift and did not return. ... Bickell's power-play tally snapped an 0-for-14 drought with the man advantage for Chicago. It also ended Phoenix's streak of killing 29 consecutive penalties. ... Chicago coach Joel Quenneville made one change in his lineup, inserting defenseman Sami Lepisto in place of Sean O'Donnell. ... Vermette has three goals in the first two games of the series after scoring four in his previous 42 playoff games.

Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Phoenix
Bryan Bickell 2 Points Antoine Vermette 2
Bryan Bickell 2 Goals Antoine Vermette 2
David Bolland 1 Assists Keith Yandle 2
Bryan Bickell 1 Power Play Goals Antoine Vermette 2
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Corey Crawford .909 Save Percentage Mike Smith .920
Corey Crawford 30 Saves Mike Smith 46
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Chicago 50 4 1-3 2-4 19 32
Phoenix 33 3 2-4 2-3 6 38
Upcoming Games
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .476 after a win and .550 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Phoenix. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .614 after a win and .474 after a loss.