Stanley Cup Playoffs : Blackhawks Keep Blues in Check for 5-2 Victory, Lead Series, 2-1

Chicago Coach Mike Keenan spent most of the season trying to get his team to play defense. It looks as if they learned their lessons just in time.

Denis Savard scored twice, and Alain Chevrier’s goaltending combined with solid checking to give the Blackhawks a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in the Norris Division finals.

The Blackhawks, who needed an overtime win over Toronto on the final night of the regular season to make the playoffs and had the worst record of the 16 qualifiers, will play host to Game 4 Monday night.

Chicago allowed 335 goals during the regular season, including an NHL-record 122 on the power play. But Keenan said the defensive lessons and work ethic he tried to install are taking root.

“I thought we played good, tight defense,” he said. “Our special teams made the difference.

“Our confidence level is good right now. The way the fans are supporting us now, it’s like we have an extra player.”

Savard, an offensive threat not known for his checking skills, also said the additional attention to defense is paying off.

“We knew that to be successful, we needed to play good defense,” he said. “Good defense is hard work. That’s what we’re doing, working hard--but it’s fun.”

St. Louis Coach Brian Sutter also credited the Blackhawk defense while faulting his own team for straying from its game plan.

“We never got in and got after their defense like we wanted to,” he said.