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CHICAGO -- This time, it was hard work for the Chicago Blackhawks. Marcus Allen Jersey . No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. Pushed, poked and prodded by the Minnesota Wild, Jonathan Toews and Co. found a way. Toews had a tough rebound goal early in the third period, and the Blackhawks beat the Wild 2-1 on Sunday to take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals. "The whole game, the whole series has been very tight," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "Still not a lot of room and space, but thats what weve got to fight through. I thought we showed more determination in the puck area tonight." Bryan Bickell also scored and Corey Crawford made 27 saves as Chicago bounced back from consecutive losses in Minnesota that handed the momentum to the Wild heading into Game 5. But the Blackhawks were back at the United Center, where they improved to 6-0 in this post-season and 17-2 over the past two playoffs. "As the game went on, we found ways to play better as a five-man unit," Toews said. "Once one line would generate a good shift and get us some energy, the next line would follow it right up. I think thats when were an effective team, when we have four lines going like that and contributing." Erik Haula scored in the first period for the Wild, and Ilya Bryzgalov had 26 stops. Minnesota became the first team to score first in the second round of the NHL playoffs and lose, dropping that record to 19-1, according to STATS. "We tried to hang on to something we wanted to have happen and we fell victim to it," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. Game 6 is Tuesday night in Minnesota, where the Wild are undefeated in this post-season. Minnesota had a chance to grab the lead in the third but Crawford made a nice kick save on Cody McCormick about 2 1/2 minutes into the period. He also had a solid glove stop on Ryan Suter with the Blackhawks clinging to a 2-1 lead with 4:38 to go. "We just need a better effort," Wild star Zach Parise said. "Not that it was terrible. I mean, we had our chance to win at the end of the game. We did some things really well. But I think we can be better, and we know we can be better." Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp combined to put Chicago in front 4 1/2 minutes into the third. Hossa sent the puck in front to Toews at the right post. The captain was stopped by Bryzgalov, but he managed to slam home a backhand for his fifth goal of the playoffs. "It was an ugly goal," said Toews, who also had a big hit on Wild forward Mikael Granlund right before he scored. "As a line we were playing well and looking to find a way to score. I happened to get an ugly one on the side." The first period looked similar to much of the past two games in Minnesota, with the Wild using their speed and checking ability to shut down Chicagos high-powered attack. The Wild also outworked the defending Stanley Cup champions early on as Quenneville tried several line combinations looking for a spark. Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook was whistled for tripping just 29 seconds into the game, and Granlund sent an open look off the outside of the right post on the ensuing power play. A terrific individual effort by Haula put Minnesota in front at 16:33 of the first. He drove through the Chicago zone and kept moving after his first try was stopped by Crawford, flipping a backhand into the net for his third goal of the post-season. Chicago started to generate more chances in the second, but most of its early shots came from outside and Bryzgalov gobbled them up easily. Marcus Kruger sent a pass through the Minnesota crease, but no one was there for the Blackhawks. It took a well-timed dash by a seldom-used role player to set up Chicagos third goal in the past three games. Playing for the first time since April 12, Peter Regin drove to the net to draw a hooking penalty on Jonas Brodin. Regin was active for the first time in the playoffs after the Blackhawks scratched Andrew Shaw with a lower-body injury, and Brandon Bollig sat out with a two-game suspension for boarding Wild defenceman Keith Ballard in Game 4. On the ensuing power play, Patrick Kanes slap shot went off Bickells left leg and past Bryzgalov to make it 1-1 at 9:18 of the second. It was Bickells sixth goal of the playoffs. NOTES: Game 7 would be Thursday in Chicago. ... The Wild played without Ballard (upper-body injury) and forward Matt Moulson (lower-body injury). ... Blackhawks D Michal Rozsival was scratched after he struggled in Game 4. D Sheldon Brookbank and F Kris Versteeg returned to Chicagos lineup. Alex Smith Jersey . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. Gary Spani Jersey . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent.TORONTO -- After sitting out the previous two games, Kenny Ryan made a loud statement Sunday according to his head coach Steve Spott. The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. "He came in and gave us great minutes on that fourth line with (Brad) Staubitz and (Jamie) Devane," said Spott. "Kennys one of those guys that can be an unsung hero. He kills penalties, he plays against other teams top lines and he brings us that speed and energy that you need on the depth of your lineup." After Anton Lander opened the scoring, Ryan set up Greg McKegg and Devane sixty-eight seconds apart in the second. Ryan also set up McKeggs second of the night in the third. Brandon Kozun had the other goal for the Marlies (31-17-4) whove won three straight and earned a spilt in the season series with Oklahoma City winning one game a piece. "I think Ive been struggling a little bit trying to get my feet underneath me and felt like the breaks werent going my way," said Ryan, who was playing in his 27th game with the Marlies. "Tonight I was pretty confident out there. Making plays, hanging on to pucks as long as I could and fortunately got a couple bounces." With the loss the Barons (23-24-7) dropped two of three in a three-game, three-night stretch over the weekend. The Barons won the only other meeting of the season between the two clubs, 5-3, Jan. 30 in Oklahoma City. Garret Sparks, who was making his first start since Jan. 31, made 38 saves for the win and improved to 2-2-0 at Ricoh Coliseum this season. Richard Bachman made 27 saves for his 14th loss of the season. Kozun made it 4-1, on a power play, at 17:10 re-directing a T.J. Brennan shot past Bachman. McKeggs second of the night at 9:42 gave the Marlies a 3-1 lead. McKegg picked up a pass from Ryan and beat Bachman blocker-side for his 13th of the season on a power play. With the two-goal game, McKegg now has four goals and four assists in seven February games. "Hes now turning himself into a legitimate NHL prospect and Im sure theres a number of teams, not only the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 29 other teams that are seeing that as well," said Spott. "Its great to see the confidence that hes playing with. Austin Reiter Jersey. " The Marlies scored twice in just over a minute during the middle frame to erase an early 1-0 deficit. McKegg tied it 1-1 at 8:34 taking a Stuart Percy feed and one timing it over the glove hand of Bachman for his 12th of the season. Just over a minute later, Devane slapped a loose puck past a screened Bachman for his third of the season giving Toronto its first lead, 2-1. Oklahoma City opened the scoring on a second period 5-on-3 power play as Landers pass re-directed off of Korbinian Holzer and past Sparks at 3:48 of the second. Toronto had an excellent chance to open the scoring at 12:15 of the first period as Josh Leivo re-directed a Ryan feed past Bachman, but hit the post. With a minute remaining in the opening period, Mark Acrobello beat Sparks glove-side but rang his shot off the post. Just prior to the Acrobello chance, Peter Holland got a shot through the pads of Bachman, but Barons defenceman David Musil was there to clear the rolling puck before it crossed the goal line. "Hes so dynamic. The challenge we have now is do you play him with Kozun, Leivo, Abbott so well have to make some decisions as we go forward," Spott said of Holland. "Hes a puck procession guy, he likes to move the puck and hes just so dynamic through the neutral zone. "A good effort by him. He hasnt played hockey in a long time. Hes been off for quite some time with the break. Hell only get better as we go." Holland was playing his first game with the Marlies since being re-assigned on Saturday. In three games with the Marlies this season, Holland has three goals. With the March 5 NHL trade deadline fast approaching a plethora of scouts were in attendance to watch the Maple Leafs and Oilers affiliates Sunday. Spott said hes noticed chatter among his players. "We have a room there where guys get coffee, you definitely hear some of the banter, but all they can do is control their play," said Spott. "They cant control anything else outside of that so, its just staying positive and allowing them to play. "Were a four line team, we get everybody out on the ice, and if they want an opportunity to continue to play in the National Hockey League, its a great program to be in." ' ' '