National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Boston 2, Chicago 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, June 15, 2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees: Wes McCauley, Dan O'Halloran
Linesmen: Pierre Racicot, Jay Sharrers
Attendance: 22154


Bruins 2, Blackhawks 1 (OT): Daniel Paille scored 13:48 into overtime and Tuukka Rask made 18 of his 33 saves in the first period as visiting Boston evened its Stanley Cup final with Chicago at one game apiece.

After the Blackhawks emerged with a 4-3 triumph in triple overtime in Game 1 on Wednesday, Boston's Jaromir Jagr nearly ended Saturday's tilt just 1:28 into the extra session but rang a shot off the post. The Bruins kept up the intensity and made Brandon Bollig pay for failing to clear the puck. Tyler Seguin promptly zipped a pass from along the right-wing boards to the top of the left faceoff circle to Paille, who snapped a shot that went under the glove of Corey Crawford and caromed in off the right post.

Paille also had an assist as Chris Kelly scored to record his first point of the playoffs for the Bruins, who avoided falling into an 0-2 hole in the Stanley Cup final for the second time in three years. Boston, which rebounded to defeat Vancouver in 2011, returns home for Game 3 on Monday.

Patrick Sharp scored his ninth goal to claim a share of the NHL lead with Boston's David Krejci. Crawford finished with 26 saves for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blackhawks, who saw their six-game home winning streak come to an end and fell to 10-2 at the United Center.

Sharp opened the scoring after Chicago peppered Rask with a bevy of shots, resulting in a loose puck squirting out to the right circle. Sharp gained possession and quickly unleashed a shot that squeezed between Kaspars Daugavins and Rask at 11:22 of the first period. Kelly forged a 1-1 tie with 5:02 remaining in the second after Paille collected a loose puck behind the net and made a nifty move on defenseman Nick Leddy. Paille stepped out front and was denied by Crawford, but the puck caromed off Kelly and into the net.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Stanley Cup final began with a pair of overtime games for the fourth time in history - and second in as many years. Los Angeles posted a pair of 2-1 overtime victories over host New Jersey to claim a 2-0 edge in 2012. The Stanley Cup final also opened with two straight overtime games in 1946 and 1951. ... Boston set a franchise record by participating in its seventh overtime game in one postseason. The Bruins are 5-2. ... Boston RW Nathan Horton returned to the top line after exiting Game 1 in the first overtime with an unspecified upper-body injury following an exchange with Chicago D Niklas Hjalmarsson. ... Kelly ended a streak of 21 consecutive postseason games without a point and 23 straight without a goal. ... Chicago, which went 0-for-3 on the power play, has failed to score on its last 15 opportunities with the man advantage. Boston has killed off its last 22 chances while short-handed.

Top Game Performances
 
Boston   Chicago
Daniel Paille 2 Points Patrick Sharp 1
Daniel Paille 1 Goals Patrick Sharp 1
Daniel Paille 1 Assists Michal Handzus 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Tuukka Rask .971 Save Percentage Corey Crawford .929
Tuukka Rask 33 Saves Corey Crawford 26
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Boston 28 2 0-2 3-3 6 39
Chicago 34 1 0-3 2-2 4 33
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .778 after a win and .636 after a loss.
  • Boston will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Bruins have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .579 after a loss.