Dogged Bruins Shoot Down Blackhawks

Stanley Cup champions Boston Bruins thrillingly twice fought back from behind to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout at the United Center on Saturday.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas stopped all three Chicago shooters in the shootout and Tyler Seguin beat Chicago goalie Corey Crawford with a snap shot through the legs to settle the game.

I don't like shootouts, Thomas told reporters. They're no fun for me. I know they're fun for the fans, but sometimes it's important how they turn out and tonight might have been one of those nights, because we needed the win.

The Bruins had lost their previous two games and Chicago's Bryan Bickell opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period to give Boston that sinking feeling again.

However, Boston's Chris Kelly converted for a shorthanded goal to tie the score early in the second.

Patrick Kane restored the Blackhawks lead just 1:18 later but Nathan Horton restored parity in the third period to send the game to a wide open scoreless overtime period and the shootout.

It's tough to give up a goal, especially when you're up 2-1, but it kind of seemed like we were playing back a little bit and not really pushing the pace, said Kane.

When you get that one-goal lead, I know you don't want to cheat and push too much, but at the same time it would have been nice to make it 3-1.

Boston had the best opportunity in the overtime period, however Rich Peverley missed on a breakaway smashing a backhand shot wide after decking Crawford to the ice.