Chicago Takes Stanley Cup Lead

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CHICAGO — Scoring goals in important games is nothing new for Patrick Kane. After all, he netted the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 playoffs. 
The latest of Kane’s heroics came Saturday night when he scored twice in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins to put the Blackhawks on the verge of winning their second title in four seasons. 
“Sometimes you catch some breaks,” Kane said. “I was in the right spot at the right time tonight on both goals. I think everyone wants to be that guy in big-time games, and I’ve been lucky enough in a couple to step up.” 
Chicago leads the Stanley Cup Final 3-2 with Game 6 set for Monday night in Boston. 
A bounce-back performance by goalie Corey Crawford and an empty-net goal by Dave Bolland put the finishing touches on the victory. Crawford, who was heavily criticized for allowing five goals in the Blackhawks’ 6-5 overtime victory in Game 4, stopped 24 shots. 
“It was a big effort by everyone to come back, play defensively, block shots, sacrifice our

bodies to block those pucks and quickly get on to offense,” Crawford said. “Another good game, I think, moving the puck, moving our feet, and getting into the zone.” 
The victory came as captain Jonathan Toews stayed on the bench for the third period with an injury. His status for Game 6 is uncertain. He took a vicious hit from Johnny Boychuk midway through the second period, but Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said he didn’t think that was the “defining blow.” 
Boston faced a similar situation with alternate captain Patrice Bergeron, who didn’t return to the bench for the third period after playing only 49 seconds in the second. NBC reported that Bergeron was taken by ambulance to a local hospital while the game was in progress. 
“There’s still a lot of good players on both teams that can certainly make things happen. But you know, it’s a challenge,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “It’s about both teams wanting it bad enough and hoping guys step up and do the job if those guys aren’t back, and that works for both sides.” 
Zdeno Chara ended Crawford’s shutout bid with a blast from the left faceoff circle at 3:40 of the third period, making it 2-1. The shot beat Crawford high to his glove side, an area he struggled with in Game 4. 
The goal came as the Bruins increased their pressure after putting only five shots on goal in the second period. 
“We definitely came out harder in the third period,” said Boston’s David Krejci, who fed Chara for the one-timer goal. “We got that first one, but we just couldn’t get anything going after that, we couldn’t get that second one.” 
Chicago grabbed a 2-0 lead through two periods on Kane’s two goals. 
Scoring chances weren’t plentiful in the first period, but the Blackhawks broke through at 17:27 on Kane’s first goal of the night. 
He stuffed in a rebound to the right of a fallen Boston goalie Tuukka Rask, who couldn’t control a slap shot from Johnny Oduya. Rask finished with 29 saves. 
The period was marked by physical play, highlighted by a scuffle between Boychuk and Patrick Sharp along the boards just inside the Bruins zone 30 seconds after the Chicago goal. 
Rask wasn’t tested often in the first but did withstand two close calls that would have cost the Bruins dearly. The first came when Toews hit the post to Rask’s right at 3:38. 
Rask went from left to right across the crease to deny Sharp with about five minutes left in the first to keep it scoreless at that point. 
Chicago was able to make it 2-0 early in the second period on Kane’s second goal. He backhanded the rebound of a Bryan Bickell wraparound chance that eluded Chara and Rask at 5:13.