Blues beat Blackhawks 4-3 in OT, take 2-0 lead
ST. LOUIS - Defenseman Barret Jackman scored on a drive through traffic, giving the St. Louis Blues their second straight 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday for a 2-0 series lead against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
St. Louis rallied after Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for a vicious elbow to the head on Blues captain David Backes, who had to be helped off the ice, went straight to the locker room and did not return for the extra period.
Vladimir Tarasenko forced overtime with his second goal of the series, beating Corey Crawford with a wrist shot that banged off the right post and in with 6.4 seconds to go. Kevin Shattenkirk had a goal and two assists for the Blues, who also got a goal from Chris Porter.
Duncan Keith, Seabrook and Michael Rozsival scored in a span of five shots to put the Blackhawks up 3-2 early in the third. But Seabrook's penalty proved costly, and he could be suspended for Game 3 in Chicago on Monday night.
The Blues took the opener in triple-overtime and fought off a Chicago rally in a game that began less than 39 hours later.
The Blackhawks got no help from a power play that went 0 for 4 and is 0 for 9 since Seabrook scored on their first chance in Game 1.
Tarasenko made the most of the Blues' 6-on-4 advantage after pulling goalie Ryan Miller.
Keith's goal late in the second ended a scoring drought of 119 minutes and 27 seconds for Chicago since a three-goal first period in Game 1. Before Chicago's rally, Miller stopped 53 consecutive shots.
A Blues checking forward started the scoring for the second straight game. Porter had one assist in 22 regular-season games.
St. Louis made playing to the whistle pay off, capitalizing on a late flurry when Shattenkirk's slap shot from just inside the blue line beat an out-of-position Crawford with 1.8 seconds to go in the first.
The first two games drew standing-room crowds, both times with hundreds of red Chicago jerseys in the stands.
NOTES: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and Falcons offensive line coach Mike Tice are co-owners of a thoroughbred, Midnight Hawk, that was the prohibitive favorite in the Illinois Derby Saturday. ... Shattenkirk had a career-best 10 goals in the regular season. ... Porter, a ninth-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2003, scored his first goal since April 7, 2013, at Detroit. ... Alexander Steen, who got the game-winner in triple-overtime in Game 1, is among five Blues players with two overtime playoff goals. The others: Brett Hull, Pierre Turgeon, Scott Young and Mark Reeds.