GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It happened so fast, like all of these overtimes winners do. Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks gave the Phoenix Coyotes a taste of their own medicine, Toews beating Phoenix goalie Mike Smith 2 minutes, 44 seconds into overtime to win Game 5 of the teams' NHL playoff series 2-1 and force a Game 6 Monday in Chicago.
It was Toew's second goal of the series.
The Blackhawks staved off elimination from the playoffs and trail 3-2 in the series. They've won twice in overtime in Arizona and have lost twice in the extra session at home. Now, after five games in a row of overtimes, it has been firmly established that each team can win on the other's home ice.
That gives the Coyotes some confidence going east, even as they hoped to seal the deal and win their first-ever playoff series as the Phoenix Coyotes. It wasn't to be on Saturday, even though Phoenix led 1-0 after two periods following Gilbert Brule's first career playoff goal.
"We're going to go up there and battle. We need one win to win the series. They came out and played a very good game," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "We're going up there with the same mindset."
Tippett called five overtime games "tight hockey." His counterpart Joel Quenneville of Chicago agreed, tapping his his chest over his heart.
"We stuck with it," Quenneville said.
The Blackhawks outshot the Coyotes by double - 38 to 19. Mike Smith stopped 36 shots, continuing his strong goaltending in the series.
The Coyotes never really threatened to build on their lead after Brule's goal. The Blackhawks, perhaps sensing elimination, turned up the pressure and had better and more numerous chances.
One paid off in the third period, Nick Leddy beating Smith to tie it at 1 at 9:15 of the period.
The Blackhawks won despite four penalties called on Viktor Stalberg -- all different infractions. But Chicago killed off every power play for the Coyotes.
"They outworked us in the third period," center Kyle Chipchura said. "We knew they were going to throw everything at us. We're confident in this group on the road."
The crowd sensed victory from the start, many hoping no doubt that some professional team in the area would win a game Saturday after the Suns and Diamondbacks lost.
It wasn't to be. Many did come out in support of suspended forward Raffi Torres, however.
Coyotes players feel the team remains in the driver's seat to win this series. They have two games to do it and make their own history in the process, and in doing so perhaps garner more interest from a prospective owner.