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National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Phoenix 3, Chicago 2
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees: Stephen Walkom, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Brad Lazarowich
Attendance: 21627

COYOTES 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 (OT):
Mikkel Boedker scored at 13:15 of overtime as visiting Phoenix reclaimed home-ice advantage and seized a 2-1 lead in its Western Conference quarterfinal series against Chicago.

Boedker scored on a seemingly harmless shot from a sharp angle along the goal line that snuck past Corey Crawford in the third straight overtime contest in the series.

Rostislav Klesla and Ray Whitney also scored for the Coyotes and Mike Smith made 35 saves to hand the Blackhawks only their second loss in the last nine home playoff games.

Andrew Brunette and Michael Frolik scored for Chicago, which lost star forward Marian Hossa in the first period on a brutal shoulder-to-head hit by Raffi Torres, who launched himself off his skates into Chicago's leading scorer during the regular season.

Game 4 is Thursday night in Chicago.

The Blackhawks carried a 1-0 lead into the third, but the teams combined for three goals in a 65-second span while playing 4-on-4.

Klesla beat Crawford with a slapper at 8:16, but Frolik - in the lineup because of rookie Andrew Shaw's suspension - backhanded a rebound past Smith 33 seconds later for his first goal since Dec. 14 and a 2-1 Chicago lead.

Phoenix responded 32 seconds later when Whitney converted a rebound for his 20th career postseason tally at 9:21, setting up a third overtime in as many games - the fifth time that's happened to start a series in league history.

Chicago, which scored at the end of regulation to force overtime in each of the first two games, got a last-minute goal in the first period to open the scoring.

Patrick Kane wristed a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that Brunette tipped past Smith with 28.4 seconds left in the period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hossa was motionless before he was immobilized and taken off the ice on a stretcher before he was transported to the hospital via ambulance. He was discharged from the hospital before the game was over. Torres was not penalized for the play, but is likely staring at a lengthy suspension. ... Earlier Tuesday, Shaw received a three-game suspension for flattening Smith with a shoulder to the helmet in Game 3. NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan disagreed with Shaw's contention that the hit was inadvertent, explaining that Shaw did "not make a reasonable effort to avoid such contact." ... Coyotes C Martin Hanzal (lower body) and LW Lauri Korpikoski (upper body) sat out Tuesday after sustaining injuries in the third period of Game 2. Hanzal scored the game-winner in overtime in Game 1.
Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   Chicago
Rostislav Klesla 3 Points Andrew Brunette 1
Rostislav Klesla 1 Goals Andrew Brunette 1
Rostislav Klesla 2 Assists David Bolland 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mike Smith .946 Save Percentage Corey Crawford .912
Mike Smith 35 Saves Corey Crawford 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Phoenix 34 3 0-3 3-3 8 28
Chicago 37 2 0-3 3-3 18 35
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Phoenix. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .614 after a win and .474 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .476 after a win and .550 after a loss.