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 An inconsistent start to the season failed to derail the
Blackhawks (22-9-1), who have rebounded to win 13 of their past 15
games. So, it made sense that a turbulent third period against the
Wild did not prevent the Blackhawks from rallying for a late
victory.
"That's the sign of a good team," Seabrook said. "When you can go
through a little bit of adversity throughout the season or through a
game and be able to find a way."
Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane banked a shot off the skate of
Minnesota defenseman Jonas Brodin for a go-ahead goal on the power
play with 3:28 remaining in the third period. Right winger Ben Smith
added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining to seal the win.
The Wild (16-12-1) sustained their first regulation loss in eight
games this season against Central Division opponents.
Blackhawks goaltender Antti Raanta stopped 26 of 29 shots to improve
to 5-2-0.
Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom turned aside 34 of 38 shots in the
loss. Backstrom felt ill after the first period but remained in net
because fellow goaltender Darcy Kuemper had a stomach virus,
Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said.
A hooking call against Wild left winger Erik Haula with 4:35
remaining in the third period led to Kane's tiebreaking goal on the
man advantage.
Haula smarted in front of his locker after the game. He said his
play did not merit a penalty.
"I definitely don't agree with it," Haula said. "You could probably
tell by the emotions on the bench that our team didn't really agree
with it. Four minutes left, to decide a great hockey game like that,
I don't think it's right."
The mood was brighter for the Blackhawks, who scored three goals in
the second period.
"They're a dangerous team," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
"They don't give up a whole lot. We generated with pucks and bodies.
Everything was funneled to the net. We got a lot of momentum off
that second period."
The Wild erased a 3-1 deficit with back-to-back goals in the third
period to tie the score. Right winger Nino Niederreiter scored on
his first career penalty shot with 12:47 remaining in the third
period to cut Chicago's lead to 3-2. Defenseman Marco Scandella
followed Niederreiterís goal with a blast from the top of the right
circle that evened the score at 3-3 with 9:57 remaining in the third
period.
"We battled back," said Yeo, who praised his players but expressed
frustration about the late penalty call. "It was a tie game, and
that's the difference in the game, that play."
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Minnesota opened the scoring on a slap shot by left winger Thomas
Vanek with 7:11 remaining in the first period. Wild center Mikael
Granlund carried the puck behind the Blackhawks' net and slipped a
pass through traffic to Vanek, who blasted a one-timer from the slot
for his fourth goal of the season.
Chicago evened the score at 1-1 on a slap shot by Seabrook with
11:50 remaining in the second period. Seabrook settled a pass from
right winger Kris Versteeg and ripped a rising shot past Backstrom's
stick side to snap a 12-game goal scoring drought.
The Blackhawks grabbed a 2-1 lead on a goal by right winger Marian
Hossa with 7:41 remaining in the second period. Hossa stood near the
right side of the crease and steered a shot through traffic for his
sixth goal of the season.
A hard-fought goal by Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews increased
Chicago's lead to 3-1 with 3:39 remaining in the second. Toews
pushed in a loose puck on a third attempt after Backstrom stopped
back-to-back shots by right winger Ben Smith.
After the game, Smith still was not certain who deserved credit for
the goal.
"Who knows?" Smith said with a grin. "I said to (Toews), 'Who
cares?' Big goal at the time."
NOTES: Blackhawks D Duncan Keith missed his first game of the season
because of an undisclosed illness. Coach Joel Quenneville said he
was not sure whether Keith had mumps, which has affected players
from several teams. ... Wild D Jared Spurgeon missed his second
consecutive game because of an undisclosed illness. ... Blackhawks G
Corey Crawford missed his eighth consecutive game because of a
lower-body injury, but Quenneville said Crawford could return this
weekend. ... Wild D Marco Scandella returned after serving a
two-game suspension for an illegal hit against New York Islanders C
Brock Nelson. ... Minnesota LW Brett Sutter made his team debut
after he was promoted Monday from the AHL's Iowa Wild. Sutter's
father is Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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