Stanley Cup Playoffs : Blackhawks Win, Will Meet Flames in Campbell Finals

Bob Murray and Wayne Presley scored eight seconds apart to key a three-goal burst in the second period Wednesday night as the Chicago Blackhawks won the Norris Division playoff championship with a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

Chicago, outscored, 27-17, by St. Louis in eight regular-season games, won the best-of-seven series in five games, winning the last three games.

Dave Manson had two assists for the Blackhawks, who had the lowest point total of the 16 playoff teams. Chicago will open the Campbell Conference finals against the Calgary Flames next week.

Chicago, trailing 1-0, received the break it needed when Blue defenseman Glen Featherstone received a major penalty and game misconduct for an altercation with Chicago’s Jeremy Roenick.

The teams were both a player short when Murray took Manson’s pass from inside the Chicago zone and skated in alone on St. Louis goalie Greg Millen. Eight seconds later, Presley scored with 10:35 to play in the second period after Blackhawk captain Dirk Graham stole the puck in the St. Louis zone.

Roenick capped Chicago’s three-goal spree with St. Louis a man short because of Featherstone’s penalty, shooting off the right boards between Millen’s skates with Blue defenseman Tom Tilley serving as a screen.

Roenick’s goal, his first of the playoffs, increased the Blackhawks’ lead to 3-1 with 7:47 to play. Tilley scored with 17:28 left on a 50-foot shot, but Steve Thomas scored on a breakaway for Chicago with 11:37 left.