Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Jonathan Toews scored three power-play goals to record his first career playoff hat trick, as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated Vancouver, 7-4, to take a commanding lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with the Canucks at GM Place.
Underway: At Home, Canucks Try To Pull Even In Series Vs. Blackhawks
Toews added two assists to tie a Blackhawks playoff record for points in a game, joining Stan Mikita (1973) and Steve Larmer (1990).
The Chicago captain followed up a three-goal effort by Dustin Byfuglien on Wednesday. They are the first set of Blackhawks teammates to post hat tricks in consecutive games since Tony Amonte and Gary Suter did so on April 23-24, 1994, against Toronto.
Patrick Sharp registered a goal and three assists for the Blackhawks, who have taken this series over, winning three in a row after dropping the opener at home. Chicago has outscored Vancouver 15-6 since entering the third period of Game 2 trailing by a 2-1 score, and can close things out at the United Center on Sunday night.
Antti Niemi made 26 saves in the win.
The Blackhawks are one victory away from a return trip to the conference finals. Chicago, which lost in five games to Detroit a year ago, hasn’t appeared in consecutive conference finals since 1989 and ‘90.
Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin both scored a goal and collected one assist for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo was beaten six times on 33 shots.
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