Marian Hossa scored two goals and Kris Versteeg and Bryan Bickell also tallied to lead the Blackhawks past Anaheim, 4-2, on Friday night in Chicago to end the Ducks’ eight-game winning streak and hand them only their second loss in the past 20 games.
Corey Crawford made 19 saves to help the Blackhawks end a five-game losing streak against Anaheim — including three straight in Chicago — and beat the Ducks for the first time since December 2011.
With Chicago cruising, 3-0, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf scored on a wrist shot to cap an odd-man break with 6:13 left in the third, ending Crawford’s shutout bid.
Advertisement
Anaheim’s Kyle Palmieri connected on a 40-foot shot 53 seconds later to make it 3-2, but Hossa scored into an empty net with 7.6 seconds left.
Anaheim’s run of 18 wins in 19 games began with a 3-2 shootout victory at Chicago Dec. 6. It was the longest span of one-loss play since the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens won a record 20 of 21.
Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller was sharp and made 31 saves, but his 14-game winning streak ended. That run tied him for second-longest in NHL history with four other goalies.
Hiller hadn’t lost since a shootout defeat to Los Angeles Dec. 3.
Despite scuffling along at 1-1-3 in its past five games, defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago has the NHL’s second-best point total, 4 points behind Anaheim.
Blue Jackets 5, Capitals 1 — Cam Atkinson scored two goals and Sergei Bobrovsky continued his hot streak to lead host Columbus past Washington for its fifth straight victory.
The Capitals, who got a goal from John Carlson, have lost four in a row and 11 of 15.
Ryan Johansen added a goal and an assist, James Wisniewski had a goal, Mark Letestu scored for the fifth time in six games, and Jack Johnson had two assists for the Blue Jackets.
Advertisement
Columbus is 2 points out of playoff position with at least one game in hand on every team ahead of them in the Metropolitan Division and wild-card playoff races.