Now the Blackhawks are one win away from their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1992 after they eked out a 3-2 overtime thriller over the gutty,but still in big time trouble San Jose Sharks. Dustin Byfuglien continues to build on his growing legend as he nailed a one timer past Evgeni Nabokov off a great centering pass from Dave Bolland which brought the house down big time, waving towels, and dancing to CHELSEA DAGGER. The win puts the Hawks ahead of San Jose three games to none with a chance to complete a sweep Sunday.The first period was scoreless,but only thanks to an would be goal by San Jose’s Joe Pavelski at 1:51 which went in off his skate. After a review,it was waved off.The Blackhawks out shot the Sharks 12-10 in the first period. San Jose took advantage of a two man advantage when first Bolland went for holding at 2:00 of the second period,then Marion Hossa was called for hooking :33 later. With just :02 left on the five on three, Patrick Marleau wristed in a rebound of a Pavelski shot past Antti Niemi at 3:58. The Hawks got what for them in this game was a rare power play when Logan Coutre went for slashing Niemi at 5:53,and Patrick Sharp tied the game at 6:59 with his 7th of the playoffs after a pass from Jonathan Toews which extended his streak to a new Hawks playoff record of 12 straight games with a point,breaking Stan Mikita’s old mark. The Hawks took their first lead 2-1 when Toews found Bolland at center ice on a break away and after he deked Nabokov right, he buried a backhander at 13:05. But after a blown icing call on the Sharks, play continued and Dany Heatley centered to Marleau who’s second of the game was the tying goal. The Sharks out shot the Hawks 18-6 in the third period and 41-27 in regulation play.The Hawks had a 11-5 shots on goal edge in extra time but the Sharks had a 46-38 SOG advantage for the game.
NOTES—Attendance was 22,311…..The Sharks has six power tries to just two for the Blackhawks….Game time Sunday is 2pm(actually later with the NBA pre game commercials)….The last time the Hawks won the Western Conference Finals and the Campbell Bowl in 1992, they swept the Edmonton Oilers,before suffering the same fate to Pittsburgh in the Finals that year.
LES