Kane's Late Goal Lifts Blackhawks Past Wild 5-3
CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Kane scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 3:28 left, and the Chicago Blackhawks bounced back to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-3 on Tuesday night for their 13th win in 15 games.
Kane's centering attempt from behind the net — intended for Patrick Sharp — struck the skate of Minnesota defenseman Jonas Brodin and carried into the net.
Chicago's Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists. Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook also scored, and Ben Smith added an empty-net goal for the surging Blackhawks, who won without top defenseman Duncan Keith who was sidelined by an illness.
Nino Niederreiter scored on a penalty shot, and Marco Scandella fired in a screened goal in the third period for the Wild, who came back from a 3-1 deficit to tie it. Thomas Vanek had a first-period goal.
The Central Division rivals met for the first time since Chicago beat Minnesota in the second round of last season's playoffs.
Antti Raanta made 26 saves as Blackhawks No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford sat out his eighth game with a foot injury, sustained as he left a concert two weeks ago.
Crawford is expected to return this weekend. Raanta and rookie Scott Darling have filled in solidly during his absence.
Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom finished with 34 saves.
Keith missed his first game this season, and David Rundblad took his spot in the lineup. He was paired with Seabrook, Keith's usual partner, in the first period before coach Joel Quenneville shuffled his defense pairings.
Niederreiter's team-leading 14th goal tied his career high, set last season in 81 games.
Vanek scored the only goal of the first with 7:01 left. He was left wide open in the slot, and fired a shot over Raanta's stick after taking Mikael Granlund's centering pass from behind the net.
The Blackhawks dominated the second, outshot the Wild 21-8 and took a 3-1 lead on goals by Seabrook, Hossa and Toews in a span of 8:11.
Seabrook tied it 1-1 at 8:10 when he moved in from the right point and ripped a high shot past Backstrom.
Hossa made it 2-1 with 7:41 left in the second.
Toews started and finished the play that increased Chicago's lead to 3-1 just over four minutes later. He stole the puck from Christian Folin and whipped it back to Smith who was alone in front.
Smith took two point-blank shots, and the second slipped between the goalie's pads. Toews then tapped it in.
But the Wild stormed back in the third to tie it.
Niederreiter was awarded his penalty shot at 7:13 after he was hooked from behind by Hossa. Niederreiter faked and beat Raanta with a rising backhand shot.
Scandella tied it 3-3 with a screened shot from just inside the right point just under three minutes later.
NOTES: Keith has six goals and 12 assists in 31 games. ... Rundblad sat out the previous five games as a healthy scratch. ... Scandella returned after serving a two-game suspension. Minnesota D Jared Spurgeon missed his second game due to an illness. ... Wild F Brett Sutter played his first game this season following his recall from AHL Iowa on Monday. He is the son of Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter, who also coached and played for the Blackhawks.
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