STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Blackhawks Beat Blues for 3-2 Lead in Series

Jocelyn Lemieux’s unassisted, breakaway goal started a three-goal flurry in the second period Thursday night that carried the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues and a three-games-to-two advantage in their best-of-seven Norris Division final.

Lemieux’s goal was followed by goals by Troy Murray and Steve Thomas in a span of 2:16 to account for all of Chicago’s scoring.

“It was a reaction play,” Lemieux said of his first playoff goal. “I can’t remember how it happened. I went in and the puck was right there. I’ve got one of the worst shooting percentages in the playoffs. I thought I should try to get this one.”

The Blackhawks can wrap up the series with a victory in Game 6 in St. Louis on Saturday night. A seventh game, if needed, will be played in Chicago Stadium Monday night.

After the Blackhawks had taken a 3-1 lead, Brett Hull scored his 11th goal of the playoffs on a power play at 14:33 of the second period, but the Blues could get no closer.

The Blackhawks had a good opportunity in the first period when the Blues drew successive penalties that gave Chicago a two-man advantage for 1:42. But the Blackhawks couldn’t score.

At 13:54 of the period, goalie Ed Belfour drew a delay-of-game penalty when he flipped the puck into the stands attempting to clear. It took the Blues 11 seconds to score the power play goal with Adam Oates connecting from inside the blue line past a screened Belfour.

The Blackhawks tied it at 3:56 in the second period when Lemieux broke away for his goal.

Murray scored at 4:59 during a scramble in front of the net. Thomas connected at 6:12 on a 50-foot slap shot that hit off goalie Vincent Riendeau’s pad.