NHL: Vital win for Calgary Flames as Chicago Blackhawks dominate
Last Updated: 06/05/15 10:12am
Calgary Flames put themselves back in contention in their Western Conference semi-final playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks with a 4-3 home victory in Game Three.
Center Mikael Backlund scored the winner in overtime on a delayed penalty call – firing home through a crowd of players - to reduce the Ducks’ lead in the series to 2-1, with Game Four set for Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Left winger Brandon Bollig scored his second goal of the post-season and center Joe Colborne scored his first in regulation for the Flames before rookie left winger Johnny Gaudreau's late equaliser to force overtime.
Gaudreau scored the tying goal on a five-on-three power play with the goalie pulled with 19.5 seconds left.
With Flames center Matt Stajan and defenseman Simon Despres off on coincidental minors, Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen took a penalty for firing the puck over the glass.
The Flames then capitalised in the dying seconds as Gaudreau walked in on the right wing and ripped a top-corner blast past Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen, who made 17 saves in the game, to tie the game at 3-3.
Wingers Patrick Maroon, Matt Belesky and Corey Perry scored in regulation for the Ducks, while center Ryan Getzlaf and Despres each had a pair of assists.
Meanwhile, right winger Patrick Kane's first-period power-play goal was the difference in Chicago's 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild, giving the Blackhawks a 3-0 advantage in their Western Conference semi-final playoff series.
Goalie Corey Crawford added a 30-save shutout for Chicago, who can sweep the series and end the Wild’s Stanley Cup hopes for the third successive season, with a win on Thursday.
The Wild had 21 saves from goalie Devan Dubnyk, but were an offensive no-show once again.
Both sides enjoyed periods of control in the opening period, with the Wild getting the game's first four shots on goal, but they needed Dubnyk to come to the rescue as the Blackhawks offense heated up.
The Blackhawks cashed in on their first power play, as Kane netted his sixth goal of the playoffs, taking a pass from center Andrew Shaw before beating Dubnyk with a low shot from the left circle.
