CASPER
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CHICAGO – Five minutes into the game, the Vancouver Canucks were rolling. With two quick goals, they appeared on their way to a commanding lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals.
"We were a little scrambly at the beginning of the game," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said, describing his team's play.
But by the end, the Blackhawks were solid enough. They fought off two third-period power plays by the Canucks — Patrick Sharp scored short-handed on one of them to tie the game — and then took the lead on Kris Versteeg's goal with 1:30 left.
Chicago's 4-2 comeback win tied the series. Games 3 and 4 are in Vancouver on Wednesday and Friday.
"We had the power play moment twice in the third period where we could have made the difference and not only did we not, they scored on it," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said.
"We're going back home now. ... We're going to have to play better than we did tonight, obviously."
After a sluggish performance in a 5-1 loss in the opener, the Blackhawks used their speed, played a more physical game and were able to get some pucks past Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who still had 30 saves. He'd made 36 in the opener.
"We were a little scrambly at the beginning of the game," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said, describing his team's play.
But by the end, the Blackhawks were solid enough. They fought off two third-period power plays by the Canucks — Patrick Sharp scored short-handed on one of them to tie the game — and then took the lead on Kris Versteeg's goal with 1:30 left.
Chicago's 4-2 comeback win tied the series. Games 3 and 4 are in Vancouver on Wednesday and Friday.
"We had the power play moment twice in the third period where we could have made the difference and not only did we not, they scored on it," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said.
"We're going back home now. ... We're going to have to play better than we did tonight, obviously."
After a sluggish performance in a 5-1 loss in the opener, the Blackhawks used their speed, played a more physical game and were able to get some pucks past Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who still had 30 saves. He'd made 36 in the opener.