THREE THINGS: Tip Drill, Highs and Lows, and On the Cusp

The resilient Blackhawks made a resurgence on Wednesday night in Game 3, surging for a late, comeback win over the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3.

A familiar occurrence from the regular season -- with five of their 32 wins coming after trailing at the second intermission -- the third-period comeback came down to the wire. Matthew Highmore scored the 3-3 equalizer with 5:47 on the clock before Jonathan Toews deflected home the game-winner with 1:16 to play.

"We just believe in ourselves and knew that if you get enough chances, eventually they're going to go in for us," the rookie Highmore said with the poise of a veteran after his first NHL playoff goal. "We just kind of kept digging and playing our game."

CHI 4, EDM 3

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**GAMECENTER**: Blackhawks vs. Oilers - Game 3

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**RECAP**: Blackhawks Comeback, Take Game 3, 4-3

**BLOG**: Game 4 Set for 5:45 p.m. Friday

**HIGHLIGHTS**: CHI 4, EDM 3

**GALLERY**: Blackhawks vs. Oilers - Game 3

"It was a great team effort," Toews added. "Some great contributions from all over our lineup in the third for that offense."

With the win, Chicago took a 2-1 series lead over the Oilers, needing just one more victory to secure an official Stanley Cup Playoffs berth in the final 16.

"Hard-fought game from us. I thought we showed a lot of character to stick with it," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "I thought we were pretty solid defensively, did a good job of limiting their transition and we found a way to score some dirty goals -- a lot of people going to the net, getting traffic. Proud of how the guys worked. We'll enjoy it for tonight and then on to the next one."

TIP DRILL

Three was a common theme to the Blackhawks scoring in Game 3: bodies in front.

In the first period, it was Kirby Dach screening Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen in front that allowed Olli Maatta's blast from the point to give Chicago a 1-0 lead midway through the first. Before the period's end, Toews scored his first of the night -- albeit unbeknownst to him at the time -- simply by driving the net. A Dach centering feed on the power play deflected off the captain's skate and into the goal in a non-distinct kicking motion.

Fast forward to the third, where Highmore was able to get a stick on a Slater Koekkoek blast to send a puck over Koskinen's shoulder for the tying tally and Toews, once again in front, provided a screen to a Connor Murphy shot from the point that deflected off Oilers defenseman Ethan Bear's stick, then off Toews' knee and into the net for the difference.

"We've talked about it all year, that we've got to find a way to score those types of goals," Colliton said after the game. "We know we're good in transition and off the rush, that's not going to change, but sometimes things get really tight and you've got to find a different way to produce. I think we've found a way to do that at key times here and tonight was a perfect example. Just find a way to get to the net, get sticks on pucks and get in the goalie's eyes and that has to continue."

It was an approach that also saw success in Game 2 as Maatta and Koekkoek each found twine from the point with traffic in front in the 6-3 loss on Monday night.

"Whenever we get in the zone, I think our forwards do a great job holding onto the puck and that makes them (Edmonton) collapse a little bit," Maatta said after his second goal in as many games in Game 3. "I think they (the forwards) do a good job of giving us the puck with a little more time. It hasn't only been me and 'Koeks,' it's been (Calvin de Haan) and 'Murph' and (Duncan Keith) and (Adam Boqvist). I think they're getting pucks through and it feels like every time we're getting to the net, the forwards are in a position, battling for them, getting knee bumps, getting tips. It makes it tough for them."

"It's always part of your game plan," said Murphy after his first NHL playoff point with the game-winning assist. "I think (the forwards) do a good job of drawing wingers down to them and then it leaves a couple open shots. 'Koeks' and Olli have been hot lately and have really smart shots they get through and been able to go in. That's always a good game plan for any game."

HIGHS AND LOWS

Scoring the equalizing goal was a sigh of relief for Highmore, whose fourth line was on the ice for the two even-strength goals the Oilers scored on Wenesday night -- both from the stick of Leon Draisaitl, who they were tasked with shutting down for a good portion of 5-on-5 play. The second one in particular, tying the game 2-2, came in the aftermath of a defensive-zone blunder from the rookie himself. Standing near the top of the circle as the Blackhawks moved in transition up the ice, Highmore whiffed on an attempt at a cross-ice feed, instead sliding the puck right into the path of Draisaitl on the forecheck. A few seconds later, Edmonton's top scorer popped home a rebound from the side of the cage.

"Obviously a couple tough bounces for our line," Highmore said. "We wanted to get that back and to help the team. It was certainly on our mind and we wanted to create energy and I think we did that. As a group, our whole team got us a big win."

"They knew," Colliton said of the line's motivation late. "They've been so good for us here and obviously they got scored on a couple times and that's something they take pride in, being strong defensively. I thought they got better as the game went on and they come through with a huge goal for us. Happy for them."

The veteran Toews knows a moment like that for the depth group that isn't always focused on finding the net can not only be the confidence boost they need after a tough outing, but can be the catalyst for success in the games to come.

"For a guy like 'Highsy' to score a goal tonight, a big-time goal, I think it give that line a ton of confidence," he said. "They're playing great hockey and they're only going to get better with the results coming like that."

ON THE CUSP

In almost the blink of an eye, Chicago went from chasing an equalizer to hopefully force overtime in Game 3 to taking a commanding 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series with a chance to close it out on Friday night in Game 4.

"When you win a game like that, it's kind of why you do this," Colliton said. "The feeling of how hard we competed and just proud that our guys just stuck with it. They wouldn't be denied facing adversity and just found a way to come through. You've got to enjoy that a few minutes or whatever it is, that's important. When you lose those games, they hurt a lot, so you've got to enjoy the wins."

That moment, though, will be short-lived. The sights are already set on Game 4 with the full expectation that Edmonton will throw everything they have at Chicago to stave off elimination.

"From our perspective, we've got to make sure we keep it even-keel," Colliton said of heading into the clinching scenario. "I think that was a bit of the issue last game (Game 2). We didn't respond well enough to the push that was inevitably coming from Edmonton. We've got to expect a desperate, desperate team in Game 4 and then we've got to respond ourselves. We'll use this time to prepare, we'll enjoy the win because you've got to love winning, but ultimately we've got to finish it off.

"A five-game series is definitely different," Toews said. "We've had some experience in the past knowing how to play, how to prepare for those big games ... it's having that killer instinct.

"Knowing that every game of this series has gotten tougher, it's going to be the toughest game coming up. I think their best players played well and capitalized for them, but we can expect a much better team game and for them to improve as we go along."