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GAME 1:
As familiar foes, the Blackhawks and the Blues met in St. Louis to start their 2002 Western Conference Quarterfinals series. The Blues got the scoring started on a power-play goal by Pavol Demitra at 1:34 in the second period, but Chicago quickly tied it again at 2:42 with a goal by Kyle Calder. The game would remain tied for 34 more minutes, until Alexander Karpotsev avoided going to overtime with a goal 16:50 in the third. Jocelyn Thibault made 25 saves for his first playoff win in exactly 6 years, giving the Blackhawks the early lead in their series against St. Louis.
GAME 2:
Brent Johnson made 26 saves for his first playoff win and his first playoff shutout in only four starts, bringing St. Louis even with Chicago in the series at 1-1. The Blues recorded two goals in the game, starting with Doug Weight's power-play goal in the first period, and cleaning up with Scott Mellanby's goal at 12:48 of the third. The teams now move on to Chicago, where they both hope to take the lead in the series.
GAME 3:
Brent Johnson had very little trouble recording his second straight shutout, needing to make only 12 saves throughout the entire game. Jamal Mayers got the game-winner 1:48 into the first period, followed by Scott Mellanby's at 13:26. Pavol Demitra brought the score up to 3-0 for the Blues early in the second period. Then a mistake by Blackhawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault allowed Scott Young to pick up the puck while the net was open and score a short-handed goal for St. Louis. Thibault was replaced by backup Steve Passmore for the third period, but the damage was already done. With too few shots on net, the Hawks failed to score and fell 4-0 in the game and 2-1 in the series.
GAME 4:
For such a young goaltender, Brent Johnson has already accomplished alot. His name was added to the NHL history books as he became only the fourth NHL goaltender since 1926 to post three consecutive playoff shutouts. If that record wasn't enough, he also became the first goalie to have his first three postseason wins all be shutouts. Amazingly, his feat would be duplicated just 24 hours later when Ottawa's Patrick Lalime joined Johnson as the fifth and second goalie on those two NHL record lists. With 27 saves, Johnson kept the Blues ahead in their series against Chicago with a 1-0 win. The lone goal was scored by Pavol Demitra, his third in the series, at 18:43 of the second period. But it could easily have gone the other way.
Early in the second period, Chicago's Steve Sullivan bounced a puck off of Brent Johnson's chest. It flew up behind him, hit the crossbar on the net, and proceeded to roll down the goalpost to land on the goal line. Johnson quickly pulled the puck out with his stick and cleared it, and a video review confirmed that the puck had not crossed the line. That was one of Chicago's best chances at snapping Johnson's shutout streak. Steve Passmore started in net for the Blackhawks, his first career playof start, with 24 saves, as the teams head back to St. Louis at 3-1.
GAME 5:
St. Louis opened up the scoring with Scott Mellanby's third goal of the series, a power-play goal at 19:43 of the first period. But Chicago finally beat Brent Johnson's 207:44 long shutout streak with Steve Thomas' tying goal at 4:34 of the second period. The Blackhawks then took a two goal lead for the first time in the series mid-way through the game, starting with a power-play goal that was knocked in close at the net by Kyle Calder. He was followed 20 seconds later by Steve Sullivan, who flipped another goal in from right by the St. Louis net. The Blues responded 1:18 later on a goal by Scott Young. Then Steve Passmore would give up Chicago' lead for good when St. Louis captain Chris Pronger shot one past with only 2.2 seconds remaining in the second period.
Rookie Jamal Mayers got his second game-winning goal of the series at 6:23 of the third, putting St. Louis up to 4-3. Keith Tkachuk ensured the win with his first goal of the playoffs with 4:04 remaining in the game. With Brent Johnson making 32 saves, the Western Conference Semifinals awaited with Detroit vs. St. Louis.
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