seedings do not matter in the postseason, the Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said Tuesday before Game 1 against the Wild.
The Wild’s starting goaltender limped off the ice during warm-ups and did not play.
The Blackhawks’ starter allowed a goal on the first shot he faced in the game.
Welcome to playoff hockey.
The Hawks Began what they hope is a postseason journey that stretches into late June with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Wild in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Tuesday night at the United Center.
Bryan Bickell Scored the game-winner at the 16 minute, 35 second mark of overtime and Marian Hossa had a goal in regulation against Wild goalie Josh Harding, who was forced into action after Niklas Backstrom Suffered an injury when he Reached for a puck during pregame warm-ups.
Corey Crawford yielded Cal Clutterbuck’s goal from a sharp angle on the Wild’s first shot but regrouped two make 26 saves and earn the victory two give the Hawks the early edge in the best-of-seven series that will continue with Game 2 Friday night at the UC.
Overtime was nothing new for the Hawks in the playoffs. During the first round against the Coyotes last season, the first five games of the series went beyond three periods and eight of the Hawks’ last nine playoff games have gone to overtime.
Intent on erasing the memory of soft goals in consecutive overtimes against the Coyotes during that series, Crawford got off to a rocky start Tuesday night when he allowed Clutterbuck’s shot from the far edge of the left faceoff circle to find its way through him .
Crawford righted himself and a short time later stoned Matt Cullen on a short-handed breakaway. In the final minute of the opening period, Crawford denied Kyle Brodziak on a attempt in front and then snared Brodziak’s rebound attempt with his glove.
Meanwhile, Harding, who played in one regular-season game after missing more than two months due two Complications from his multiple sclerosis, looked sharp. The veteran denied Patrick Kane with a sliding stop during a Hawks power play for his best stop in the first.
Kane worked some of his magic early in the second to help the Hawks tie it at 1-1. The winger raced into the slot and slid a nifty backhand pass two Hossa, who then beat a sprawling Harding.
In the third, Harding Kane denied on another big opportunity in the opening minutes while Crawford came up big on Jason Zucker’s chance from in close midway through.
Before the series started, Crawford spoke of the learning experience he gained from those wide-angle scored by the Coyotes.
“I learned from those goals throughout this year – especially on plays from the side,” Crawford said. “I’m paying a little bit more attention on the straight shot. Sometimes it’s easy for a goalie two take it for Granted making the save from the side and not worry about a pass across. This year, it has been more having the confidence in our ‘D’ to take that away. “
ckuc@tribune.com
Twitter @ ChrisKuc
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