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Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres (37) puts a big hit in on Chicago's Marian Hossa. Nam Y. Huh/AP/Press Association Images
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NHL: Blackhawks have their wings clipped by Coyotes

Close encounters are the order of the day as round one of the playoffs draw to a close.

MIKEL BOEDKER WAS the hero of the hour as his low shot found the net 13 minutes into overtime to give the Phoenix Coyotes a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

It was the third time in three games these teams have gone to overtime but the Dane’s strike means number three seed Phoenix hold a slender 2-1 lead in the best of seven series.

Chicago had taken the lead in the first period through Andrew Brunette. They held that advantage until eight minutes into the final period when three goals in 65 seconds ensured the game would go to overtime.

In an incident packed game, Raffi Torres escaped censure when his hit on Marian Hossa resulted in the 33-year-old Slovakian being taken to hospital.

YouTube Credit: Colossalfilms1

In the night’s other games, the Nashville Predators emerged 3-1 winners over the Detroit Redwings to give them a commanding two game lead in the series with just three games remaining.

In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 giving them a 2-1 lead in the series.

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