CHICAGO, Ill – For the third straight game, the Blackhawks needed to win and they did just that with an Easter Sunday 4-3 overtime victory. Rookie Ben Smith’s rebound goal 15:30 into overtime forces a Game 7 Tuesday night.
Vancouver shocked the hockey world by starting Cory Schneider over Roberto Luongo in net, though he was not able to finish the game. Early in the third period, Chicago’s Michael Frolik was awarded a penalty shot after Kevin Bieksa tripped him on his way to the net.
Frolik deked Schneider forcing before lifting the puck over Schneider’s right shoulder. As the goalie sprawled across the crease, he winced in pain. The training staff escorted Schneider to the locker room with an apparent lower body injury. This forced Luongo to come off the bench and play the games remaining 33 minutes.
Luongo was barely tested in the final 17-minutes of the third period. Chicago only fired two low percentage shots on net. Overtime was different as Chicago peppered the Vezina Trophy finalist with 11 shots.
Vancouver started the game as the better team. Daniel Sedin gave the Canucks the 1-0 lead just 2:06 into the opening period with a wraparound goal. With 
just over five minutes left in the first period the Hawks responded when Bryan Bickell scored his second goal of the series.
Chicago’s first goal was created after spark plug Dave Bolland, separated Dan Hamhuis from the puck. He dished the puck to Bickell who was all alone in front of the net.
When it looked like Chicago would have the momentum on their home ice, Alex Burrows took it back for the Canucks. Burrows found a loose puck and broke into the Chicago zone scoring his first goal of the playoffs with 1:12 left on the clock.
Chicago had a golden opportunity to tie the game with a long two-man advantage at the game’s midpoint. The Canucks penalty kill stood tall all night, killing off all six Chicago power plays.
With the teams back at full strength the Hawks again found a way to tie it at two. Bolland, who has been Chicago’s best player the last three games, lit the lamp for the second time in the playoffs.
With the teams four-on-four to start the third period, the Canucks again came out the faster team. Bieksa who has used his physical play the entire series, beat goalie Corey Crawford with a snap shot, pushing the visitors back ahead 3-2.
Chicago will try to become the fourth NHL team to win a series after falling behind 3-0. The team will drop the puck at 7 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday night in the Rogers Centre.
GAME NOTES: Chicago won 54% of the draws, five of their six draw men were over 50%…The last time a goalie named Luongo didn’t started a Vancouver playoff game was 2004 (Alex Auld)…Canucks defenseman Sammy Salo left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury…The Blackhawks become the eighth team in NHL history to force a game seven after losing the first three…Frolik’s penalty shot was the first playoff penalty shot conversion in Chicago’s franchise history.
Contact Adam.Minnick@prohockeynews.com
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