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 That was the case Friday, when the Blackhawks dominated the
league-leading Anaheim Ducks 4-1 at Honda Center in a clash between
Western Conference powers.
Right winger Patrick Kane led the way for Chicago with two goals and
an assist. Center Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith both
found the back of the net, while left winger Patrick Sharp assisted
on all four Chicago goals.
"That's the way Kane's been playing all year but he just seems to be
getting better every night," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
"Sharpie was excellent tonight as well; that line had a big night
for us."
Right winger Rickard Rakell scored the lone goal for Anaheim.
Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 21 of 22 shots while
Anaheim netminder Frederik Andersen made 29 of 33 saves.
The Blackhawks took the season series by winning two of three games,
as the teams will not meet again this regular season. On the heels of a successful penalty kill, Chicago opened the
scoring at 5:30 of the first period with their two top
point-producers finding themselves in an odd-man situation. Kane
sent a pass into the right slot for Toews, who initially mishandled
the puck but recovered to fire it past Andersen for his 15th goal of
the season.
"I thought we started the right way, it was nice to get an early
goal and I think we played a perfect road game," Kane said.
The Blackhawks took a 2-0 edge when Keith inched up from the left
point and blasted a slap shot through Andersen. The Ducks contended
that Toews interfered with Andersen, but it appeared as though Ducks
defenseman Clayton Stoner pushed Toews to create the initial contact
with the Anaheim netminder. It was Keith's seventh goal of the
season.
"One-nothing, two-nothing, anything can happen so scoring that
second goal was big," Sharp said. "It seemed like we were skating
well all game long and we didn't have any letdowns throughout the
60-minute game."
Chicago took a commanding 3-0 lead with 4:37 left in the second
stanza as Kane roofed a wrist shot to the short side off the rush.
The goal was Kane's team-leading 24th of the season.
The Ducks got on the board with 9:54 left in the game when right
winger Corey Perry's fake shot took defenseman Brent Seabrook out of
the play before he slid the puck across to a wide open Rakell.
Rakell buried his fifth goal of the season, which came on the power
play.
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Anaheim's top scorers--Perry, defenseman Sami Vatanen and centers
Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler --combined for a solitary point Friday.
Conversely, Sharp and Kane produced seven points, with Toews and
Keith also finding their way onto the scoresheet as well for
Chicago.
"That's what we're here to do," Kane said. "We have a lot of
responsibility to do some good things out there. But it was a good
effort by everyone, not just the top guys."
Sharp centered a puck that Kane redirected home for his 25th goal,
sealing the victory with 6:35 remaining in the contest.
Both teams were coming off disappointing losses in their previous
games. Chicago blew a late third-period lead to fall to Los Angeles
in regulation at Staples Center on Wednesday. The Ducks were beaten
soundly at San Jose, losing 6-3 Friday. They had lost a back-to-back
hosting Chicago and visiting San Jose back in November as well.
"We know that we've lost the season series against Chicago and San
Jose, the only two teams we've lost the season series against. We
know we have to be better," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "But
let's not talk like we're friggin' Buffalo. We had a bad weekend
after winning six straight."
NOTES: Anaheim D Eric Brewer (foot) was activated from injured
reserve and could return to the lineup on Tuesday against Carolina,
meaning all of the Ducks' regulars will be available for the first
time this season. ... Chicago was once again without RW Kris
Versteeg (hand), who has not played since New Year's Day. He likely
will return to action in February. ... Blackhawks LW Daniel Carcillo
served the fifth of a six-game ban for a cross-check that injured
Winnipeg C Mathieu Perreault and caused him to miss 10 days. ...
Chicago dealt D Adam Clendening to Vancouver on Thursday, acquiring
D Gustav Forsling, a prospect currently playing in his native
Sweden. Clendening had two points in four games with Chicago this
season and 13 points in 38 games with their American Hockey League
affiliate in Rockford, Ill.
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