National Hockey League Playoff Game Capsules

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Patrick Kane’s goal with 8:20 remaining in double overtime, his third of the contest, sent the Chicago Blackhawks into the Stanley Cup Finals thanks to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals from United Center. Jonathan Toews carried the puck from the neutral zone all the way up ice on the left wing, until sliding a perfect cross-ice dish to Kane, who one-timed the series winner home from the right circle. Duncan Keith recorded the other score for the Blackhawks, who flirted with disaster — having wasted a 2-0 lead in the first period and a 3-2 advantage with less than 10 seconds in regulation — but rebounded to advance to the title round for the first time since winning it all in 2010. Corey Crawford stopped 33-of-36 shots in the triumph. Dwight King, Anze Kopitar and Mike Richards lit the lamp for the Kings, who made an heroic last stand facing elimination, but failed in their quest to become the first repeat winner since the Red Wings of 1997-98. Jonathan Quick made 31 saves in the season-ending defeat, the longest playoff game in Los Angeles history. Coupled with Boston’s advancing in a sweep against Pittsburgh on Friday, the NHL championship will feature two Original Six franchises for the first time since the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers squared off in 1979.

Categorized in: NHL