The Chicago Blackhawks led in the third period of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Blues, but they coughed up the lead and lost 3-2 to fall behind two games to one in the series.
The Blackhawks have been getting the lion’s share of power plays in the first three games of the series, and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday afternoon. Kyle Brodziak was assessed two roughing minors early on, and the Hawks took advantage. After Jonathan Toews won a face-off, the puck found its way to Brent Seabrook, and he hammered home his 20th career playoff goal to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
The Blackhawks got two more power play opportunities thanks to Jay Bouwmeester, who was whistled for hooking and interference in quick succession, but the home side was unable to capitalize on either opportunity as the Blues’ penalty killing found its sea legs.
Later on, the Blues got a power play of their own, and they quickly scored to tie things back up. As the puck cycled around the zone, Colton Parayko got it at the top of the point, and his shot ended up deflecting off of Tomas Fleischmann’s stick and past Corey Crawford to knot things up at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.
The Blackhawks came out of the gate firing in the second period, and just one minute in, they scored to take the lead. Paul Statsny won a face-off for the Blues in the defensive zone, but Parayko lost the puck to Artemi Panarin behind the net. The rookie Russian fired a quick pass to Artem Anisimov, and the veteran did the rest as he hit a knuckling shot past Elliott to make it a 2-1 contest.
The Hawks continued their dominance for several minutes, but the Blues slowly turned the tide in the middle stages of the period. Vladimir Tarasenko had a great chance denied by Crawford during a netfront scramble, and Jori Lethera was stoned on a one-timer attempt as he was robbed by a Crawford glove save later on in the frame.
Two more huge chances for the Blackhawks followed late in the period, but neither shot would get into the net. Andrew Ladd fired a shot that bounced off of both goal posts and stayed out, and then Panarin got a chance of his own as he deked around Kevin Shattenkirk and drove to the net, but Elliott denied him and kept the margin at one goal.
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As the third period got underway, the Blues slowly began to push back again, and they eventually struck paydirt. Patrik Berglund got the puck in the neutral zone, and as he crossed the blue line, he fired a shot toward the net. The puck hit Michal Rozsival, skipped off the ice, and went just over Crawford's glove to tie things up at 2-2.
Later in the period, the Blues got a power play thanks to a Kane high-stick, and they scored to take the lead. Tarasenko and Backes each made quick passes, and Jaden Schwartz ripped home a one-timer to give the Blues a 3-2 lead, which they would never relinquish.
The Blackhawks will look to even up the series on Tuesday night when they battle the Blues in Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Central time.
