Blackhawks get statement win vs. Blues

CHICAGO – Who said what to St. Louis Blues captain David Backes now has become secondary to what the Chicago Blackhawks said by winning Game 3 at home.

Captain Jonathan Toews delivered the message that the Blackhawks are back in the Western Conference quarterfinal series by scoring the winning goal in a 2-0 victory against the Blues, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.

"There is a certain resolve required to win a championship and that team has it and we are trying to get it," said Blues coach Ken Hitchcock.

Hitchcock said the game "was one of the best road games I've seen us play" and yet the Blackhawks found a way to pull out a victory they had to have. It's the same knack they had when they won Stanley Cup championships in 2010 and 2013. It's what they didn't have in the first two games of the series when they surrendered late leads and lost in overtime.

"We know we can hold onto a lead now," Toews said. "But the best way to do that is to keep the puck and play in their zone."

After Game 2, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford had said he needed to be better. In Game 3, he was, making 34 saves, including 15 in the first period, to record his third career shutout.

"It just sets an example for everyone in this room," Toews said. "When you have a guy with an attitude like that, a selfless individual, not thinking about themselves whether they are being criticized or not. ... He wants to win. That's all that matters to him."

The Blues were playing without Backes, who is out with an injury suffered on a booming Game 2 hit that earned Brent Seabrook a three-game suspension. Backes' absence hurts the Blues because he is the team's No. 1 offensive center and a beastly presence in their team defensive game.

Earlier in the day, Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith was asked directly whether he had been the one who said, "Wakey, wakey Backes," while Backes was stumbling around after being decked.

Keith said he was an "emotional guy" and doesn't remember "everything that gets said."

Television replays have audio that proves someone on the ice taunted the disoriented Backes. But it is unclear who said it. Toews said earlier in the day that he had talked to Backes while he was trying to regain his senses but did so only after Backes asked him to fight.

"It's not easy to not regret some of the things that might have been said, whether it's on that play or any other play," Toews said. "Sometimes that happens."

In the first two games, the Blackhawks took needless penalties that cost them severely. In Game 3, the Blues took four consecutive penalties in the second period that undermined their efforts to mount a comeback. The Blues outhit and outshot Chicago and yet couldn't find a way to beat the Blackhawks.

"We had power play chances and other chances, and we just have to put them in the net," said Blues winger Alexander Steen.

In the Blues' dressing room earlier in the day, St. Louis winger Brenden Morrow said he didn't know what was said to Backes and didn't care. He called it "gamesmanship" and said the Blues "would not react to that."

If the Blues wanted to retaliate against Keith for taunts alleged or real, they had plenty of opportunity. He topped 27 minutes, more than everyone except the goalies. He picked up an assist on Toews' goal.

That goal, which leaked through Blues goalie Ryan Miller, was Toews' first of the series.

"I would never say I don't feel pressure to score," Toews said. "If I don't on any given night, I feel like there are a lot of good things I can do. But I feel that's one of the responsibilities I have as a player."

A big goal by Toews, strong goaltending from Crawford and a gritty effort from the team. It was the kind of formula that worked well last season. It worked well again Monday to get the Blackhawks back in the series.