NHL playoffs Canucks avoid collapse
<p>Vancouver's Alex Burrows celebrates with Ryan Kesler (17) after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals seriers. The Canucks defeated the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 to advance to the semifinals.</p>
Alex Burrows scored his second goal 5:22 into overtime, Roberto Luongo made 31 saves and the host Vancouver Canucks avoided a historic playoff collapse by knocking the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks out in the first round with a 2-1 win in Game 7 on Tuesday night.
Burrows, who took a penalty early in overtime, pounced on a Chris Campoli turnover and fired a slap shot over the right shoulder of rookie Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.
Burrows opened the scoring 2:43 in, but Chicago captain Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the playoffs shorthanded with 1:56 left to force overtime.
Vancouver won the first three games before the defending champions roared back with three straight victories, threatening to spoil the Canucks' Presidents Trophy-winning season by becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to erase an 0-3 series deficit.
After being eliminated from the last two postseasons by the Blackhawks, the Canucks finally returned the favor and will host Nashville in the second round.
Luongo was back in goal after being pulled from Games 4 and 5 and benched for rookie backup Cory Schneider to start Game 6. He made a great sliding save to take a backdoor empty net away from Patrick Sharp after Burrows took a penalty just 24 seconds into overtime.
Crawford was even more outstanding at the other end, making 36 saves to keep Chicago in the game.
Burrows scored his first goal after some great work by Ryan Kesler, who skated around defenseman Duncan Keith before centering to Burrows cutting into the slot. Burrows snapped it into the empty net before Crawford had a chance to get across.
Flyers 5, Sabres 2: Brian Boucher stopped 25 shots and host Philadelphia advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a win over Buffalo in Game 7 of their first-round series.
The defending conference champions must wait to learn their next opponent.
Canadiens 2, Bruins 1: Brian Gionta and Michael Cammalleri scored during two separate two-man advantages and host Montreal forced a decisive Game 7 in its first-round playoff series with a victory over Boston.
Game 7 is tonight in Boston, with the Bruins looking to beat Montreal for only the ninth time in 33 postseason series.