May 5 (The Sports Xchange) - Right winger Patrick Kane's first-period power-play goal was the difference in Chicago's 1-0 win over the Wild on Tuesday, giving the Blackhawks a 3-0 stranglehold on their Western Conference semi-final playoff series.
Goalie Corey Crawford added a 30-save shutout for Chicago, which quieted the raucous Minnesota crowd in the first period, then frustrated the home team throughout.
The Blackhawks, who ended Minnesota's season in the playoffs the past two years, can sweep the series and send the Wild to the offseason again with a win on Thursday.