NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Chicago Blackhawks could not have started worse giving up three goals on the first 12 shots, forcing coach Joel Quenneville to yank goalie Corey Crawford.
Scott Darling came off the bench and made his postseason debut a game to remember.
Darling stopped all 42 shots he faced, and Duncan Keith scored at 7:49 of double overtime helping the Chicago Blackhawks rally and beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Wednesday night.
"It was a great opportunity for him, and he seized the moment ..." Quenneville said of Darling. "That was one of the greatest relief performances you're going to see."
The Blackhawks finished only two points back of Nashville in the Central Division, and they grabbed home-ice advantage back despite benching Crawford after the first period. Darling had played only 14 NHL games, but he stopped every subsequent shot as Nashville took 54 -- a franchise record for the playoffs.
Not bad for someone who split this season between Chicago and Rockford in the American Hockey League. But Darling went 9-4-0 during the season, and he posted a 1.95 goals-against average.
"You just kind of get thrown into it," Darling said. "It was exciting and nerve-wracking, but once I got going, I felt good."
Keith ended the game with his one-timer from the blue line. Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, and Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews each scored for Chicago. Patrick Kane also had two assists in his return after missing 21 games with a broken collarbone.
Canadiens 4,
Senators 3
MONTREAL -- Brian Flynn scored a tie-breaking goal late in the second period and the Canadiens held on in a wild opening game of their first-round playoff series.
Flynn also had two assists for the first three-point game of his career.
Tomas Plekanec and Torrey Mitchell scored 15 seconds apart in a frenetic second period that saw five players get goals in less than five minutes. Lars Eller scored short-handed as part of the barrage.
Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris got power-play goals in the middle period for the Senators. Milan Michalek was credited with the game's first goal, which Montreal's Andre Markov tipped into his own net 12 minutes in.
Canadiens star defenseman P.K. Subban was given a five-minute major and game misconduct after slashing Ottawa rookie Mark Stone in the wrist midway through the second period.
Game 2 is tonight.
Flames 2, Canucks 1
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Calgary defenseman Kris Russell scored with just under 30 seconds remaining in the third period.
David Jones also scored for the Flames, who were down 1-0 entering the third period. Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots in the Flames' first playoff game since 2009.
Bo Horvat opening the scoring for Vancouver midway in the second period. Jannik Hansen and Alexander Edler assisted on the play.
Vancouver hosts Game 2 tonight.
Russell's shot from the point found its way through traffic after a dominant shift by the Flames that had the Canucks hemmed in deep.
Eddie Lack made 28 saves for Vancouver, which is back in the postseason after missing out last spring for the first time in six years.
Sports on 04/17/2015