Blackhawks take Western semifinal

From Sun news services

May 12, 2009

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Patrick Kane scored three times, Jonathan Toews had the go-ahead goal in a frantic final period Monday night, and the host Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks, 7-5, to win the Western Conference semifinal series, 4-2.

Chicago's quick, talented team will make the franchise's first appearance in the conference finals since 1995. And fittingly it was the two young stars, Kane and Toews, leading the way before a roaring crowd at the United Center.

When Chicago's Troy Brouwer was called for goaltender interference with just under 8 minutes left, Daniel Sedin scored quickly with a shot from the left circle that put the Canucks ahead, 5-4.

Kane responded. He got a puck from behind the net and then maneuvered to the side and put a shot under Roberto Luongo to tie the game at 5.

Forty-nine seconds later on a power play, Toews worked around the side, trying to pass across the crease to Patrick Sharp. The puck deflected in off Vancouver's Alexander Edler with 6:11 left.

Kane capped his hat trick with a hard back-hander past Luongo with 3:43 left.

Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin made 33 saves and Luongo 23.

Off the ice

HURRICANES: Forward Scott Walker was fined $2,500 but will not be suspended by the NHL for throwing a punch that may have broken a bone in Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward's face in Game 5 of the Eastern semifinals.

RED WINGS: Defenseman Brian Rafalski, who has been sidelined with an upper-body injury, could be back in the lineup Tuesday night when Detroit looks to eliminate the Ducks in Game 6 of the Western semifinals.

LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay made Rick Tocchet its full-time coach, lifting the interim tag and giving him a three-year contract.

The former NHL star took over in mid-November after Barry Melrose was fired. The Lightning went 19-33-14 under Tocchet.

STARS: A month after Dallas ended its season without a playoff berth, and Mike Modano said he would take some time to ponder if he would retire, the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history said he would play in 2009-2010.

THRASHERS: Ownership has had "several inquiries" from possible investors but has not had talks about moving the team from Atlanta, co-owner Bruce Levenson, said.