The Chicago Blackhawks beat Vancouver 5-1 Tuesday to eliminate the Canucks in Game 6 of the NHL second-round playoffs for the second straight year. Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg scored 36 seconds apart early in the second period, as the Blackhawks completed a 4-2 series win, setting up the Western Conference finals series against the top-rated San Jose Sharks. Dave Bolland scored on a short-handed breakaway with 45 seconds left in the second period, and Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien added breakaway goals 35 seconds apart in the third. “Bolland's goal at the end of the second was the most important goal of the game,” said Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, who extended his point streak to nine games with an assist on Kane's goal. “It gave us that distance and confidence we could hold a lead going into the third period.” Antti Niemi made 29 saves for the second-seeded Blackhawks, who will enter the series against San Jose with a 4-1 record on the road in these postseason. “We like the way we play on the road but we're disappointed in the way we play at home,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It's confusing everybody around the league in the playoffs but at the same time we've got a little momentum.” Shane O'Brien scored 3:44 into the third period, and Roberto Luongo finished with 30 saves for the Canucks, who were knocked out in the second round for the third time in four years. Vancouver hasn't advanced past the second round since 1994. “We wanted this opportunity,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We wanted this challenge, and for the second year in a row we weren't able to get it done.” Arizona city guarantees league $25m to keep Coyotes The city of Glendale Tuesday agreed to guarantee the National Hockey League up to $25 million to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in the city for the next season. By a unanimous vote, the Glendale City Council approved the agreement that would come into effect if no buyer can be found for the financially struggling franchise by September. The NHL bought the Coyotes last November. City officials said that separate negotiations continue with two groups, Chicago sports figure Jerry Reinsdorf and Ice Age Holdings, to buy the team and that they anticipate an agreement by the end of June. The NHL's board of governors would then have to approve a new owner. Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, told the Glendale council that he expected the team will be sold in the near future. “This is nothing more than an insurance policy,” he assured the Glendale council. “We feel confident an ownership transaction can happen.” The future of the Coyotes has been in limbo since its previous owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2009. On Nov. 2, a US bankruptcy judge approved the team's sale to the NHL for $140 million. The Coyotes have never made money since moving to the Glendale from Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1996.
