Bryan Bickell scores game-winner for Chicago Blackhawks against Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 -NHL Playoffs
Phoenix might have dominated the Saturday night, April 14, 2012, matchup but Chicago took the last few minutes under their control as Blackhawks’ Bryan Bickell scored the game-winner in overtime to win over Coyotes, 4-3, at the sold-out Jobing.com Arena
in Glendale, Arizona.
"It was exciting to get the goal to give the team the win, but you know what? It should be exciting to go back to Chicago now," Bickell said.
Coyotes took the first matchup of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference playoff quarterfinals but now the series stands tied at 1-1 with the next two heading to Chicago, giving Blackhawks an ample chance to take the lead.
Going to overtime in the second straight playoff game certainly showed the level of completion between the two teams, making the series even more intense.
"I don't think I've ever seen that before, back to back games forcing overtime," Chicago forward, Patrick Kane, said. "But I was thankful we seized the opportunity and won this one."
Bryan Bickell opened the goal on the power play but Phoenix responded with the attack of their special teams as Raffi Torres and Antoine Vermette added the second straight on an added man advantage of their own.
Antoine Vermette went out in the opening period in the first minute for slashing but came back to capitalise on the Chicago penalty, this time with Jonathan Toews for goalkeeper interference.
"We have confidence in our team on the road, we know how to play the game," Coyotes captain, Shane Doan, said. "As ugly and as painful as it looks, we all recognize that it's one game. It's going to be a long series."
Patrick Sharp added the final of regulation with less than six seconds remaining till Phoenix was to take the second straight win while Bickell kept the momentum alive to level the series.
Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes will be facing off for game three on Tuesday, April 17, this time in Chicago, Illinois. It will be exciting to see how the Blackhawks’ home crowd will influence the Phoenix players and the way they play.
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