Associated Press
Jonathan Toews scored on a penalty shot to start Chicago's four-goal first period against Rangers backup goaltender Martin Biron, and the Blackhawks emphatically snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Blueshirts on Thursday night.
Toews kicked off the spree just over a minute in, defenseman Nick Leddy doubled the lead 1:03 later, and Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa added goals to make it 4-0 before 10 minutes had elapsed. Corey Crawford kept things mostly intact the rest of the way, stopping 22 shots to help the Blackhawks earn their first win since they topped Florida on Jan. 20.
Toews and Hossa both added assists in the first period, and defenseman Brent Seabrook set up two goals for the Blackhawks, who scored over three goals in a game only once during their losing streak (0-8-1). Chicago, which had 22 shots, was 0-6-1 during the first seven games of a nine-game trip.
The Rangers went 0-for-7 on the power play and missed a chance to jump over Detroit to the top of the NHL standings as their four-game winning streak was broken. The Blueshirts had won eight of 10 (8-1-1) to open a seven-point lead over Boston.
The Rangers came out much better in the second period, pressuring Crawford and drawing penalties, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Defenseman Marc Staal wrecked Crawford's hopes of a shutout when he brought the Rangers to 4-1 at 3:04 of the second period with his first goal of the season.
Carl Hagelin scored with 4:45 left to make it 4-2.
• COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY
|
STAT OF THE GAME
The Blueshirts held the Blackhawks scoreless in three shorthanded situations (3:24 total). The Rangers’ penalty kill has now held opponents scoreless in the last four games (10 times shorthanded), and 18 of the last 23 games (57-for-62, 91.9 percent over the span).
|
|
|
| (selected by newyorkrangers.com) |
|
|
|
| 1. Staal |
2. Hagelin |
3. Eminger |
|
[45-26-11]
[51-24-7]