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CHICAGO -- Bryan Bickell had an open look on a break in the third period, and shot the puck off the crossbar. He then tried the other side of the ice, and that worked out quite well for him and the Chicago Blackhawks. Bickell had a goal and two assists, and the Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Brandon Saad scored his first two goals of the post-season, and Chicago earned its sixth consecutive win despite stretches of lacklustre play in the second and third periods. Corey Crawford made 18 saves in another solid performance. "There were bits of that third where it wasnt looking good, but we just stuck with it," Bickell said. "Leave it to our D and Crawford to keep the puck out of the net. We need to be smarter defensively in positioning, but we stuck with it and got over the hump." Cody McCormick scored his second career playoff goal, but Minnesota missed another chance to steal home-ice advantage from the defending Stanley Cup champions. "We werent that far off," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "Even though, again, I know we can play better. We werent that far off. That game was hanging for us." The series opener was tied at 2 in the third period before Patrick Kane scored two of Chicagos final three goals in a 5-2 victory on Friday night. Game 3 is Tuesday night in Minnesota. Clayton Stoner and Erik Haula made nice passes to set up McCormicks first playoff goal in three years 2 minutes into the third, trimming Chicagos lead to 2-1. Crawford then batted a potential tying shot from Charlie Coyle over the crossbar. "I almost missed it, where it might have gone in," Crawford said. "Just enough to land on top." The Blackhawks eventually regained their composure and turned up the pressure again. Coming down the right side, Bickell shot the puck off the crossbar on a break with 4:39 to go. Given a second chance, the physical forward delivered. Bickell skated up the left side, got a pass from Marian Hossa and buried his shot into the upper right corner to extend Chicagos lead to 3-1 at 17:15. It was Bickells fifth goal of the playoffs. He also has three assists after he had nine goals and eight assists in last years playoffs. "Its that time of year. I enjoy it," said Bickell, who had just 15 points during a disappointing regular season. "This is a crucial time for this team. We need for me and this team to step up." Saad added an empty-net goal, and the Blackhawks improved to 16-2 in home playoff games over the last two years. They are 5-0 at the United Center in this post-season. "You always want to help produce and make plays and score goals, so that definitely felt good," Saad said. Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead for the second straight game. Jonathan Toews scored a rebound goal after goalie Ilya Bryzgalov stopped Hossa on a breakaway in the first, and Saad sent a shot over Bryzgalovs right shoulder right after a power play expired in the second. Haula had a great scoring opportunity on the right side of the net after Crawford lost track of the puck in the first. But Ben Smith got it back, and Haula put a drive off the side of the net. "Im disappointed that were here down 2-0, frustrated," Wild star Zach Parise said. "But we understand that we didnt play nearly well enough to win. I think thats what were upset about, not so much being down 2-0. Thats not fun, either, but the way we played wasnt good enough, and definitely not good enough to beat the Blackhawks." The Wild failed to convert on their only power play after going 0 for 3 with the man advantage in the opener. They went 0 for 17 on the power play when they were eliminated by the Blackhawks in five games in 2013. NOTES: Bryzgalov made 18 saves. ... Blackhawks F Andrew Shaw was out with a lower-body injury, but is expected to travel with the team to Minnesota. Coach Joel Quenneville said he likely will be able to play in Game 3. ... Blackhawks F Brandon Bollig was a healthy scratch after he played in every previous game this season. F Kris Versteeg was back after he was scratched the previous two games, and F Jeremy Morin made his playoff debut. ... Minnesota F Justin Fontaine had his first action since the Wilds 5-2 victory against Colorado in Game 6 of their first-round series. Stephane Veilleux was among the scratches after he played almost nine minutes in the series opener against Chicago. Sheldrick Redwine Youth Jersey .J. -- Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch deservedly draw the attention for what theyve done in getting the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Jim Brown Womens Jersey .com) - Houston Texans interim head coach Wade Phillips confirmed Monday that starting quarterback Case Keenum sustained a sprained right thumb during Sundays 25-3 loss in Indianapolis. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-...akitaki-Jersey/. The Austrian ski federation said Morgenstern was "conscious and well responsive" and his condition would be monitored in the intensive care unit of a Salzburg hospital for the next 72 hours. The federation said it was "way too early" to judge Morgensterns chances of competing in Sochi, and that an update on his condition was not expected before Monday. Jarvis Landry Browns Jersey . - Alex Dostie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 5-3 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Sunday. David Njoku Womens Jersey . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma.Check in throughout the day for the very latest from around the NHL, including injury updates, roster moves, and other breaking news. Arizona Coyotes Coyotes GM Don Maloney told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that Depending on how his season progresses - if London will be a playoff team in the OHL - if they were to lose out relatively early, theres a potential even to bring (Max Domi) to Arizona for at least a cup of coffee at the end of the year. - Arizona Sports 98.7 FM The Coyotes recalled F Brendan Shinnimin from the AHLs Portland Pirates. - Team Tweet Calgary Flames Jonas Hiller will get the start against Minnesota on Thursday as per head coach Bob Hartley. - Team Tweet Curtis Glencross (lower-body) said he felt alright on the ice following todays morning skate, but not great. He wont play Thursday against the Wild. - TSN Carolina Hurricanes Jiri Tlusty did not skate today. Coach Peters said he expects Tlusty to be able to practice tomorrow and play Friday against the Blues. - Team Tweet Colorado Avalanche Coach Patrick Roy said forward Jamie McGinn, who underwent back surgery in November, will not return this season - the first official diagnosis from the coach. The same could be true for forward Jesse Winchester, who has lingering vision problems from suffering a preseason concussion. Winchester is no longer skating or traveling with the team and might be shut down for the year. - The Denver Post Columbus Blue Jackets The Blue Jackets placed Jeremy Morin on Injured Reserve today. Morin will be sidelined indefinitely due to an upper-body injury. - NHL Dallas Stars Stars reassign Jyrki Jokipakka to the AHLs Texas Stars. - Team Tweet Erik Cole and Brett Ritchie both practiced and are game-time decesions for tomorrows game. - Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall is day to day with a bone bruise. - Ryan Rishaug, TSN New Jersey Devils The Devils took the morning off from practice and held a meetting instead.dddddddddddd. A few of the players did go for a skate, including Travis Zajac, Tuomo Ruutu (activated from IR), Jaromir Jagr, Dainius Zubrus and Jordin Tootoo. - Lou Lamoriello said Zajac is feeling much better and will be a game-time decision against the Leafs tonight. Tom Gulitti, The Record @TGfireandice New York Islanders Forward Cal Clutterbuck has been fined $2,000 as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64 (Diving/Embellishment). - NHL Ottawa Senators Colin Greening was on the ice with the team this morning ahead of the waiver deadline. The Senators winger wasnt picked up and will head to the clubs AHL affiliate in Binghamton - TSN Wednesdays Practice Lines: Forward Michalek-Turris-Stone MacArthur-Zibanejad-Ryan Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar Condra-Legwand-Neil Defence Borowiecki-Weircioch Phillips-Gryba Cowen-Ceci Methot-Karlsson Philadelphia Flyers Nicklas Grossmann (upper-body) is out for Thursdays game against the Jets. - Sam Carchidi, The Philadelphia Inquirer @BroadStBull Pittsburgh Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury will start in net tonight when the Penguins take on the Capitals. - Team Twitter Toronto Maple Leafs Jonathan Bernier will get the start in net against the Devils. Leo Komarov and Peter Holland will both be back tonight while Joffrey Lupul (lower body), Stephane Robidas (upper body) and Dion Phaneuf (hand) will all sit out. - Jonas Siegel, TSN The Leafs will start with Korbinian Holzer in Dio Phaneufs place on the top pairing with Cody Franson, but coach Peter Horachek said he may try others in that spot as well. - Jonas Siegel, TSN Petter Granberg was recalled from the AHLs Marlies will play his second NHL game this evening. - Jonas Siegel, TSN Wednesdays Projected Lines vs. Devils: Forward Komarov - Kadri - Kessel van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Clarkson Winnik - Holland - Santorelli Booth - Smith - Panik Defence Holzer - Franson Rielly - Polak Gardiner - Granberg ' ' '