Sweep: Crawford, Blackhawks beat Wild 4-3 to take series and advance to conference finals

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) swats away a shot by Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu (9), of Finland, during the first period of Game 4 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Thursday, May 7, 2015, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (The Associated Press)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) and left wing Bryan Bickell (29) celebrate Seabrook's goal off Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk as Wild defenseman Nate Prosser, front, looks away during the first period of Game 4 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Thursday, May 7, 2015, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (The Associated Press)

Corey Crawford made 34 saves, Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Blackhawks advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night for a four-game sweep.

The Wild never led in the series. Goals by Jared Spurgeon and Nino Niederreiter with 2:18 and 1:27 left gave them one last shot, with their net emptied. The final few whacks were either wide or turned aside by Crawford, who stopped 124 of 131 shots in the four games.

Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw scored for the Blackhawks, who were down to five defensemen after a serious injury to veteran Michal Roszival. Marian Hossa had a long empty-netter, and Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell had two assists apiece.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sweep-crawford-blackhawks-beat-wild-4-3-to-take-series-and-advance-to-conference-finals