DS Talk » ay by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaw

CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane had his shot all along. Same for his dazzling puck-handling skills and the vision that sees the plays before they happen. What Kane got back on Wednesday night was his legs, and the result was a familiar one. Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 to even their first-round playoff series at two games. "Special player. Patience, play recognition, delays, just at a different level you dont see often," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season after he hurt his left leg during a 4-0 victory over St. Louis on March 19. He scored in his first game back in the series opener against the Blues, but Game 4 was by far his best performance since the injury. "Every game feels like Ive gotten a little bit better," he said. "Whether its timing or getting used to playing in the playoffs again, whatever it may be, just try to keep getting better and better and use these games to my advantage." Kane carried the puck down the left side in OT as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd career post-season goal. Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, also had a shot go off the crossbar earlier in overtime. "Hes a dangerous player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Hes dangerous off the rush. The most dangerous player in the league." Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, which blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues, and Miller finished with 30 stops. Maxim Lapierre also scored his first goal of the series. "We knew it was going to be a tough battle and I think were right where we want to be," Lapierre said. "We won our two games at home. We came were and played good hockey. Now weve got to focus, regroup and play good hockey in St. Louis again." Tarasenkos fourth goal of the playoffs made it 3-2 at 12:26 of the third, but Bickell tipped Michal Rozsivals slap shot past Miller to tie it with 3:52 left in regulation. The Blues were without captain David Backes again after he was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. Backes hasnt played since he absorbed a big hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the third period of St. Louis 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Seabrook served the second of his three-game suspension, giving Sheldon Brookbank his second straight start with top defenceman Duncan Keith. Blues forward Brenden Morrow also was scratched after Hitchcock said earlier in the day that he would miss the rest of the series. Morrow missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury. He played in Games 1 and 3 against the Blackhawks. Playing in front of another loud sellout crowd, the Blackhawks used their maligned power play to grab the lead in the second. St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo had his stick knocked away by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaws right skate and popped up in the air. Shaw then swiped it in with a backhand for his first goal of the post-season at 8:40. It was the Blackhawks second power-play goal in 17 opportunities for the series. Kane got an assist on Shaws score, and then scored one of his own to make it 2-0 at 16:09. Defenceman Johnny Oduya made a beautiful cross-ice pass to a streaking Kane, who shot it over Millers glove for his second of the series. "I just try to play off instincts and have the feeling that youre going to make things happen instead of waiting around," Kane said. "Ill try to keep that going." St. Louis appeared to be in big trouble before Kane committed a delay of game penalty with 1:16 left in the second, giving the Blues an opening. Just seven seconds into the resulting power play, Tarasenko beat a screened Crawford for his third goal of the series. It was the Blues second power-play goal in 21 chances in the series. St. Louis then got another late-period goal when Lapierres shot went off the right post and then Crawfords left shoulder before going into the net with 3.1 seconds to go. Five of the Blues goals in the series have come in the final two minutes of a period. NOTES: Blues C Derek Roy returned after missing Game 3. ... Blues C Vladimir Sobotka was shaken up after a big hit from Bickell in overtime, but quickly returned to the ice. Scott Niedermayer Ducks Jersey . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday. John Gibson Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Customized/. -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. Rickard Rakell Ducks Jersey . Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday he made the choice because he had three concussions over the past four years. John Gibson Ducks Jersey . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. MILWAUKEE -- The NBAs board of governors unanimously approved the sale Thursday of the Milwaukee Bucks to New York investment firm executives Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry, bringing the forlorn franchise one step closer to starting a new era. Former U.S. senator Herb Kohl reached agreement with them last month for a price tag of about $550 million after they pledged to keep the team in Milwaukee. The NBA said Thursday in a statement that the transaction is expected to close shortly. The leagues expected approval comes days before the NBA holds its draft lottery. The Bucks, who had a league-worst 15 wins, have the best odds to get the No. 1 pick next week for Junes talent-rich draft. "The Bucks and their fans will benefit greatly from their vast business experience, energy and strong commitment to Milwaukee," commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. Lasry and Edens committed to providing $100 million to help build a new arena. Kohl also announced he would donate $100 million for a new facility to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center, the teams downtown home, which opened in 1988. Edens had said he hoped to get a plan completed for a new arrena in a year, and have it built in a couple of years.dddddddddddd He thought it might take about $400 million to build a new facility, though the new owners might face a tricky task in seeking public funding if they dont get more private help. Kohl bought the Bucks for $18 million in 1985. The Milwaukee native, whose family owned a chain of department stores, was hailed as a hometown hero. Silver praised Kohl for his "unprecedented and historic financial gift toward the construction of a new Milwaukee arena and for his outstanding service to the league and his community over his nearly 30-year tenure." An injury-plagued season left the Bucks a franchise-worst 15-67. They have finished above .500 only three times since 2000, though Milwaukee did make the playoffs in 2012-13. The Bucks were swept in four games by Miami in the first round. With new owners and a 25 per cent chance to pick up the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Bucks face a defining off-season. Even if it doesnt win the lottery, Milwaukee cannot fall below the fourth pick in a draft stocked with top prospects, including Dukes Jabari Parker and Kansas Andrew Wiggins. ' ' '