Blackhawks trounce Wild

ByReuters

Updated 05/05/2014 at 07:03 GMT

Left winger Brandon Saad scored two goals with center and team captain Jonathan Toews and left winger Bryan Bickell adding solo tallies as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-1 in Game Two of their Western Conference semifinal series Sunday in Chicago.

May 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) celebrates with left wing Bryan Bickell (29) after defeating the Minnesota Wild in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credi

Image credit: Eurosport

The defending Stanley Cup champions take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Minnesota for Game Three on Tuesday and Game Four on Friday. If necessary, Game Five will be in Chicago next Sunday.

Blackhawks right winger Marian Hossa had a great breakaway against Wild goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, but his shot bounced off the right side pipe of the net. Toews pounced on the puck and slapped a backhand and off-balance shot into the Wild net at 11:02 of the first period, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. It was Toews' fourth goal of the playoffs.

Chicago went up 2-0 at 19:04 of the second period when Saad scored his first goal of the playoffs.

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Minnesota got on the board early in the third period when center Cody McCormick scored his first points of the playoffs on a feed in front of Chicago's net by defenseman Clayton Stoner.

Chicago added two more goals to seal the victory.

Bickell scored his fifth goal of the playoffs at 17:15, leaving him tied with teammate Patrick Kane for most goals in this year's postseason.

Saad added his second goal of the game on an empty-netter at 18:37.

Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford wound up with 18 saves.

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