Blackhawks take second game from Flames for 2-0 playoff lead

Still wondering about Jonathan Toews' lack of playoff experience?

The Blackhawks' kid captain came through in the clutch like a seasoned veteran Saturday night at the United Center, scoring twice in the second period as the Hawks rallied for another victory over the Calgary Flames.

Toews' second goal with 24 seconds left in the second period held up as the game-winner, with the Hawks' 3-2 victory giving them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals.

"Johnny scored 2 gigantic goals," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Patrick Kane also had a difference-making game with a key assist on Patrick Sharp's goal in the second period that made it 2-2.

"They're great kids," Quenneville said. "They like the challenge and the opportunity."

Time will tell if the Flames gave the Hawks their best shot, only to fall short. They tried to rough up Martin Havlat all night and took second and third shots at the Hawks after nearly every whistle.

"I thought we did a good job staying disciplined and not taking any dumb penalties," Sharp said.

Game 3 is Monday night in Calgary at the Saddledome, and the Hawks expect the Flames to be even more physical.

"It's only just begun," Toews said. "I don't think we've seen all they can throw at us, that's for sure. We're going to go back to their building and we have to have that mentality that it's only going to get tougher from here on in. Nothing's going to be given to us this series."

For the second straight game the Hawks struggled in the first period, falling behind 2-0. But, oh, what a second period they had, scoring 3 goals to blow the roof off the building.

"We didn't respond like we needed to and gave them control of the game in the second period," Flames coach Mike Keenan said.

Toews' power-play goal 46 seconds into the period was a key breakthrough, according to Quenneville, who had watched his power play struggle greatly down the stretch in the regular season.

"That was a big goal tonight for us," Quenneville said. "It ignited the building, ignited our team and got our power play out of, call it a slump."

Toews' power-play goal came off a sweet cross-ice pass from Sharp, who then tied it at 13:58.

Kane chased down a loose puck along the right boards. Peeking to his left, he found a speeding Sharp in the slot, hit him with a backhand pass and watched as Sharp deked Kiprusoff down and out for the tap-in.

Toews' second goal was the reward of pure hard work.

Dave Bolland carried the puck down the left side and let a shot go at Kiprusoff. Toews flew to the net between slow-reacting defensemen Adrian Aucoin and Adam Pardy to bang home the rebound.

"I think they were more worried about the shot than me going through the middle there," Toews said.

The Hawks held the lead through a nervous third period thanks to goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who made 30 saves.

"I thought Nik was sensational," Quenneville said.

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