Patient Blues grab series lead

The St. Louis Blues kept pushing and pushing until a costly play by NHL regular-season scoring champion Patrick Kane provided an opening.

And this time there was nothing for the Chicago Blackhawks to challenge.

Jaden Schwartz scored at 13:32 of the third period with Kane in the penalty box for high sticking, and the Blues beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks 3-2 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.