The Chicago Blackhawks forced a Game 7 with the Vancouver Canucks after their 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday night in Game 6. Rookie Ben Smith scored the game-winning goal at 15:30 in the extra period. After Niklas Hjalmarsson took a shot from the blue line, Smith scooped up the rebound and put it past Roberto Luongo to win the game.
Canucks Vs. Blackhawks Final Score: Ben Smith Nets Game-Winner In Overtime
Luongo, having allowed 10 goals over the previous two games, wouldn't have even been in the net had Cory Schneider not left the game with a leg injury in the third period. Up 3-2 after an early third-period goal by Kevin Bieksa, Vancouver's Dan Hamhuis tripped Chicago's Michael Frolik on the breakaway, leading a penalty shot. Schneider hurt his leg as he unsuccessfully attempted to block the puck.
But with the game tied at three and no goals scored over the remaining time, the teams went to overtime and played fairly even until the Chicago game-winning goal.
This series returns for one final game in Vancouver on Tuesday, April 26. The Hawks will look to be the only the fourth team to overcome a three-game deficit. The Philadelphia Flyers did it most recently in 2010, defeating the Boston Bruins in the conference semifinals.
For more on this game, head over to Nucks Misconduct for Vancouver coverage or Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago for Blackhawks coverage.
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