Thursday, March 06, 2008
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Blackhawks, Rookie Goalie Shut Out Ducks

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[March 06, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Rookie Corey Crawford stopped 19 shots to earn his first NHL win and shutout in his first start this season, and the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Dustin Byfuglien and Cam Barker each had power-play goals and an assist, and Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks, who won their third straight and ended Anaheim's six-game winning streak.

The Ducks are 11-2 in their last 13.

Crawford made just his second career start in fifth NHL appearance. He had been recalled from Rockford of the AHL on Feb. 22 after Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago's No. 1 goalie, was sidelined with back spasms.

Since joining the Blackhawks, Crawford had played just 44 minutes in relief of Patrick Lalime in two games before Wednesday's start. Lalime, normally Chicago's backup, had made seven straight starts with Khabibulin out.

Chicago also ended a five-game losing streak against Anaheim. The Blackhawks hadn't defeated the Ducks since Nov. 17, 2006.

Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 25 saves.

Chicago outshot Anaheim 14-3 in the first period and held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Byfuglien opened the scoring 7:07 in, knocking in a rebound from the crease. Giguere made a pad save on Cam Barker's one-time shot from the left side of the crease, but Byfuglien slid in the loose puck.

The Blackhawks failed to score during a seven-minute power play -- including two minutes at 5-on-3 -- that began in the last minute of the first.

The long advantage was set up when Anaheim George Parros began punching Chicago's Ben Eager with 58 seconds left in the first, but Eager didn't fight back.

Both Parros and Eager received misconducts, but Parros was assessed a fighting major and instigator minor.

Crawford faced only a handful of routine shots until late in the second.

[to top of second column]

He made a shoulder save on Scott Niedermayer's shot from the slot with 2:20 left. During a Ducks power play, Crawford stopped Teemu Selanne's initial shot, then Ryan Getzlaf's rebound attempt from close range with about 5 seconds remaining.

Barker was credited with making it 2-0 at 9:01 of the third. His shot from the right point was screened by Byfuglien and appeared to deflect in off him.

Sharp was credited with a goal with 1:31 left to make it 3-0. He was hooked from behind by Chris Pronger while trying to shoot at an empty Anaheim net with Giguere on the bench for an extra attacker.

Notes: Anaheim D Chris Pronger returned after missing two games with a broken jaw. Pronger, who wore a face shield, suffered the injured Feb. 24 in a game against the Blackhawks at Anaheim. ... Ducks C Ryan Carter missed his fifth game with a broken wrist. ... Anaheim had its team-record seven-game winning streak from Feb. 20 to March 7, 1999. ... Including Khabibulin, five Chicago regulars sat out with injuries: LW Martin Havlat (shoulder, fourth game), D Brent Sopel (wrist, seventh game, C Yanic Perreault (wrist, 10th game) and C Kevin Adams (knee surgery, 53rd game). Adams has resumed skating. Havlat could be out for the season, although the team has yet to confirm it. ... Chicago C Robert Lang returned after missing four games with back spasms.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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