AP News
(2010-05-23 22:04:38)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Blackhawks moved to within one win of booking their first ticket to the Stanley Cup final in 18 years with an overtime victory on Friday over the top-seeded San Jose Sharks.
Left wing Dustin Byfuglien's overtime goal gave Chicago a 3-2 victory over San Jose and a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final.
Byfuglien's wrist shot at 12:24 of the overtime period beat San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov and sent a packed United Center crowd into a frenzy.
Three days after stunning the Sharks with a 4-2 triumph in San Jose, the Blackhawks returned home and got a superb effort from goaltender Antti Niemi, who was outstanding on the night with 44 saves.
After a scoreless first period, the Sharks bit first when Patrick Marleau sent a wrist shot past Niemi about four minutes into the second period.
The Blackhawks responded on the powerplay about three minutes later when Patrick Sharp converted a snap shot after a precise pass from Jonathan Toews.
Niemi pulled off a series of breathtaking saves during the third period before Dave Bolland put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1 with a breakaway goal.
But Marleau silenced the packed arena when he evened the score with under five minutes left in regulation.
The Blackhawks, who last hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1961, could advance to the National Hockey League's championship round with a win in Game Four in Chicago on Sunday.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)
