Teravainen helps Blackhawks win Game 1
CHICAGO -- After Chicago Blackhawks center Teuvo Teravainen had been scratched from the last four games of the six-game first-round Western Conference playoff series vs. Nashville, you might say he had an itch to scratch of his own -- and did just that Friday night at the United Center.
Filling in for injured left winger Kris Versteeg (lower body injury), Teravainen scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with less than a minute to go in the second period as the Blackhawks held on for a 4-3 win in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals at the United Center.
"That was obviously a very timely and big goal in a big setting," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said of Teravainen's score. "He's a very confident guy with the way he plays. He wants to be out there in big situations ... and we got a break."
Despite giving up three second-period goals that allowed Minnesota to tie the game at 3, Chicago goalie Corey Crawford prevailed to ultimately stop 30 of 33 shots and improve his record in this season's playoffs to 2-1.
"We kept it simple, we didn't do anything fancy (in the third period)," said Blackhawks left winger Brandon Saad, who scored Chicago's first goal of the game early in the first period. "We came out in the second period and didn't go after it as much, and that's what we got back to in the third period.
"That puck (Teravainen's shot) had some kind of eyes. It was a good shot. He found a way to get in deep and get the puck in. That was huge for us, especially after we were ahead by three."
After giving up three first-period goals, Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk settled down, eventually stopping 31 of Chicago's 35 shots, but was unable to stop Teravainen's game-winner. Dubnyk is now 4-3 in the playoffs this season.
"I didn't do it (his job) and it cost me," Dubnyk said. "We've got to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Chicago is now 7-0 lifetime at home vs. Minnesota and 9-3 overall in their playoff meetings. Chicago also remains undefeated at the United Center thus far in this season's playoffs.
"I'm not concerned right now," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "Obviously, it would've been nice to be up here after a win. We're not rattled."
Quenneville said he wasn't surprised at how good his team looked in the first period, only to see Minnesota come right back.
"They're a good hockey team," Quenneville said of the Wild. "They're going to come back and take some chances. They got a break on the power-play goal and suddenly it's a hockey game. ... We've got to be better than that period. We know they're a dangerous team and expect every shift to be important."
Saad took Chicago's first shot of the game and drove a 10-foot slap-shot past Dubnyk at 1:15 of the first period.
The Blackhawks went ahead 2-0 when right winger Patrick Kane tallied his third goal of the playoffs at 13:11 of the opening period. Kane faked Dubnyk to go to his left and then pushed a 25-foot shot to the right and into the goal.
Chicago made it 3-0 at 15:15 of the first period when center Marcus Kruger took a pass from forward Andrew Shaw, spun and netted a backhander in front of Dubnyk.
Minnesota scored its first goal of the game at 1:25 of the second period when winger Jason Zucker flipped a quick wrist shot past Crawford off a centering pass in front of the net from winger Thomas Vanek.
Left winger Zach Parise brought the Wild within 3-2 when he scored his team-leading fourth goal of the playoffs, converting a quick pass from Vanek in front of the net and then sinking it through Crawford's legs on the power play.
Just over four minutes later, center Mikael Granlund scored his second goal of the playoffs on another wrist shot past Crawford, tying the game at 3.
"We were sitting back way too much and let them do pretty much what they wanted to," Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said. "That's not the way to play when you're ahead by three goals. Teuvo's goal was a big momentum changer. It's a huge win.
"We have to score way better in the next 60 minutes if we want to win. ... We have to score more goals if we want to get past these guys."
It's the same way for the Wild, Vanek said.
"That's a great team over there," Vanek said. "We've got to get better."
NOTES: While there was speculation Chicago coach Joel Quenneville would start rookie G Scott Darling, he chose to go with No. 1 G Corey Crawford. ... Chicago LW Kris Versteeg did not take part in the morning skate for the second consecutive day and was one of seven scratches for Chicago. Minnesota recorded 17 scratches. ... This is the third consecutive postseason that the Wild face Chicago, which has gone on to win both series. Chicago defeated Minnesota 4-1 in the first round in 2013 and 4-2 in the second round in 2014. ... Chicago D Duncan Keith and RW Patrick Kane played in their 100th career NHL playoff games. ... Friday was Chicago's 322nd consecutive sellout at the United Center (270 regular season, 52 playoffs). ... Chicago signed 23-year-old LW Artemi Panarin from the KHL on Friday. Panarin is currently playing for the Russian national team in the world championships. ... Wild D Keith Ballard remains on injured reserve, missing his seventh consecutive game with an upper-body injury.