Chicago finishes Canucks

May 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO — Patrick Kane scored three times, Jonathan Toews had the go-ahead goal in a frantic final period Monday night, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 7-5 to win the Western Conference semifinal series 4-2.

Chicago’s quick, talented team will make the franchise’s first appearance in the conference finals since 1995. And fittingly it was the two young stars, Kane and Toews, leading the way before a roaring crowd at the United Center.

When Chicago’s Troy Brouwer was called for goaltender interference with just under eight minutes remaining, Daniel Sedin scored quickly with a shot from the left circle that put the Canucks ahead 5-4.

Kane responded. He got a puck from behind the net and then maneuvered to the side and put a shot under Roberto Luongo to tie the game at 5.

Then, 49 seconds later on a power play, Toews worked around the side and tried to pass across the crease to Patrick Sharp. But the puck deflected in off Vancouver’s Alexander Edler with 6:11 left.

Kane capped his hat trick with a hard back-hander past Luongo with 3:43 remaining.

Chicago’s Nikolai Khabibulin made 33 saves and Luongo 23.

No suspension for Walker

RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker will not be suspended but was fined $2,500 by the NHL on Monday for throwing a punch that may have broken a bone in Boston defenseman Aaron Ward’s face.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the automatic suspension given to Walker was rescinded during a hearing with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

“Based on what was said on the ice as I was dropping my gloves, it was my understanding that I was engaged in an altercation,” Walker said in a statement issued by the team.