Mikkel Boedker gets OT game-winner as Phoenix Coyotes take series lead against Chicago Blackhawks 3-2
Luckily, Mike Smith was back in net for Phoenix after an injury scare following a loss in game 2 against Chicago. Coyotes played hard in the third period to force an overtime extension with Mikkel Boedker scoring the game-winner to allow Phoenix to win,
3-2, and take a 2-1 lead in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series.
It was a wild and physical matchup at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, as both teams needed to take the lead with the Blackhawks playing at home and hoping for the crowd to give them a much needed boost.
Andrew Brunette grabbed his first goal of the series as he put Chicago up by one with 29 seconds remaining in the opening period. Brandon Bollig went out with three penalties in the first period alone as he was called for roughing in the opening minutes
and then another foul for rouging along with a game misconduct at 11:51.
Phoenix managed to kill off three of their own penalties in the following period until the scoring finally continued in round-three.
Rostislav Klesla levelled the match and silenced the crowd at 8:16, but as the fans were about to go into depression mode, Michael Frolik added the tie-breaking, giving them a reason to jump to their feet with excitement.
Ray Whitney emerged as the saviour for Phoenix with his first of the playoffs at 9:21, forcing the match into overtime.
Mikkel Boedker fired off the game-winner with less than seven minutes remaining in the first overtime extension until another was to be announced as the team was downed with fatigue and just wanting to get it done with already.
Chicago has one more chance at home in game 4 to comeback in the series and stay alive at least till game 6, but they way Phoenix is determined and Mike Smith continues to play well, making it even harder for Blackhawks.
Game 4 between Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks is set to take place at the United Center on Thursday, April 19, at 8:00 PM ET.
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