Chicago Blackhawks hold on against Tampa Bay Lightning to level Stanley Cup Finals

Saad's backhand after six minutes, 22 seconds in the final period proved decisive as the Blackhawks squared the series at 2-2 with the victory at the United Center.

Injured Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop missed the clash as Andrei Vasilevskiy replaced him and made 16 saves, while Corey Crawford stopped 20 shots for the Blackhawks.

Game five of the Finals is at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on Saturday.

The Lightning dominated the first period before the hosts responded early in the second and were unlucky not to go ahead as Marcus Kruger hit the post.

But captain Jonathan Toews put the Blackhawks ahead with a wrist shot that came off Vasilevskiy's pads after 6:40 in the second.

Alex Killorn levelled for the Lightning just over five minutes later, taking a wonderful pass from Steven Stamkos before a wrist-shot goal.

It was an untidy winner as Saad put a backhand through Vasilevskiy's pads to give Chicago the lead.

And they had to hold off a late Lightning flurry, as Crawford made a string of saves to see the Blackhawks level the series.