NHL: Vancouver 5, Chicago 3

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 1 (UPI) -- Sami Salo scored on a rebound with 1:13 left in the third period Thursday, offsetting a Chicago rally and giving Vancouver a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks.

Vancouver survived a third-period meltdown to win the opening game of the second-round playoff series -- the first to get under way around the NHL.

Roberto Luongo took a shutout into the final period, but the Blackhawks scored three times to tie it and create a chance for what would have been a stunning victory.

Salo, however, gathered up the puck in the high slot after Nikolai Khabibulin had stopped the original shot from Steve Bernier and easily slipped it past the Chicago goaltender.

Khabibulin was immediately removed for an extra attacker and Ryan Johnson took advantage by scoring into an empty net with 16 seconds to play.

Vancouver will host the second game in the best-of-seven series Saturday.

The Canucks built their lead on a first-period power-play goal from Pavol Demitra and second-period tallies by Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. Patrick Kane scored the first two Chicago goals and Dave Bolland tied it with 5:29 to go in the third.

Vancouver is coming off its first four-game sweep of a playoff series in franchise history, having easily brushed aside the St. Louis Blues. Chicago is in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.