ST LOUIS: Jonathan Toews caught the St. Louis Blues’ defence napping after the Chicago Blackhawks got a lucky carom.
Just like that, the puck was in the net and the defending Stanley Cup champions were in command of the first-round series.
“I wasn’t even sure where their D-men were,” Toews said after scoring at 7:36 of overtime to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 victory Friday night and a 3-2 series lead. “Just got going as fast as I could. Take advantage of a chance.”
Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford stopped a shot by David Backes, defenseman Duncan Keith cleared the puck and the rebound deflected off Andrew Shaw’s shin pad all the way to the Chicago captain alone at center ice off a change. Toews sped in with two defensemen in futile pursuit and threw a few fakes at goalie Ryan Miller before slipping a backhander into the net.
“I was just saying to some of the guys in the other room, I’m trying to get the puck out of the zone and all of a sudden it lands on his stick,” Keith said. “Couldn’t believe it. So, I was pretty happy seeing that.” St Louis defenseman Roman Polak saw Toews coming off the bench but reasoned that the Blues had control, so he left the ice about the same time Backes was shooting. Replacement Jay Bouwmeester never had a chance and Toews also got behind Jordan Leopold.
“It was a lucky bounce or something,” Polak said. “It was just a lucky bounce.”
Marian Hossa and Ben Smith also scored for the Blackhawks, who have won three in a row and can wrap up the first-round series at home today. Four of the first five games in the series have gone to overtime.
“I think we got lucky on that winning goal, but I don’t think that at the end of the day we win because of luck,” Keith said. “I think both teams have a lot of fire and grit and a lot of determination, and it’s a fine line between winning and losing.
“Like I’ve said a few times, we’re going to need our best game of the year our next game.”
TJ Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo scored for the Blues.
“What’s pouting going to do?” St Louis forward Alexander Steen said. “You just get back on the horse. It’s a game. You have to win four. They have three, we have two. Off to Chicago we go. See you there.”
All three of the Blues’ home games went to overtime and St. Louis won the first two. Before Toews scored, the top offensive threats in the series had been neutralized in Game 5. AGENCIES
