The Blackhawks lost 4-3 in overtime to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series, but saw strong performances from Patrick Kane and Corey Crawford that were missing in Game 1.
Here are three takeaways:
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Patrick Kane and his elite play-making ability punched into Game 2 with three second-period assists.
Kane only had four points (one goal, three assists) in the Hawks' first five games of the postseason, with zero and a +/- rating of -2 against Vegas in Game 1.
Early on Thursday, it seemed like the three-time Stanley Cup champion winger was trying to jumpstart his postseason game to help Chicago even the series. Kane hit the post after beating Robin Lehner five-hole in the first period on a Blackhawks power play.
Then, Kane picked up a secondary assist, passing the puck to Calvin de Haan, who fed Kirby Dach for Dach's first career NHL playoff goal to cut the Golden Knights' lead to 2-1 at 3:17 of the second period.
At 12:07 of the second frame, Showtime picked up the primary helper on Dominik Kubalik's power-play goal that tied it 2-2, for the rookie's fourth goal in six postseason contests.
Late in the second, trailing 3-2, Alex DeBrincat passed it to Kane, who fed Dylan Strome in front of the crease to tie it 3-3 with 14 seconds remaining in the period for Strome's second postseason goal.
With Kane's third assist in the game, he passed Bobby Hull (129) for third in most playoff points in Hawks history with 130. Denis Savard is in second with 145 and Stan Mikita is No. 1 with 150.
NHL
Roll call
Blackhawks rookie defenseman Adam Boqvist, who had been on the top pairing with Duncan Keith all though the postseason, was a healthy scratch for Game 2. Boqvist has zero points and a +/- rating of -3 from the Hawks' first five postseason games.
Lucas Carlsson drew into the lineup for Boqvist and Calvin de Haan skated with Keith on the top D pairing. It was Carlsson's first NHL playoff game. The 23-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut with Chicago this year and had one assist and +/- rating of +3 in six games with the Hawks this season. Carlsson recorded a +/- rating of -2, a shot on goal and a hit in 10:33 of ice time in his postseason debut.
Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty was "unfit to play" for Game 2. Pacioretty, Vegas' leading scorer during the regular season, missed the round robin with an injury but recorded four shots on goal against the Blackhawks in Game 1.
Related: Blackhawks make lineup changes for Game 2 vs. Golden Knights
Crow's back
After a rough Game 1 against the Knights, in which Crawford allowed four goals from Vegas' 34 shots, he had a rebound performance for Game 2.
There were two goals Crawford would have liked to have back in Game 1. He didn't look like the netminder who saved 43 of 45 shots the game before against the Oilers to clinch the qualifying round series.
After giving up two goals on seven shots in the first period of Game 2, Crawford battled back, as he's been known to do, and stopped all nine shots he faced in the second and all 16 in the third — with the Hawks being outshoot 16-6 — to get Chicago to overtime tied 3-3.
Vegas' push in the third was no surprise as they had outscored opponents 10-1 in their first four postseason games in the final regulation frame, making Crawford's performance all the more impressive.
Reilly Smith scored at 7:13 of overtime to win it for the Knights 4-3 and leave the Hawks trailing the best-of-seven series 2-0.
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