The Chicago Blackhawks held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Friday to claim a sixth successive home victory for the first time in eight seasons.
Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Troy Brouwer all scored as Chicago raced to a 3-0 lead, then withstood a pair of late goals by the Leafs’ Phil Kessel to seal the win.
It was Chicago’s third victory in a row since the return of injured captain Jonathan Toews and maintained their lead in the Central Division (11-5-2).
The Blackhawks last won six consecutive games at home in the 2001 to 2002 season when they won seven in a row.
“Tonight we looked like we were on our way — we had a comfortable lead and let it unravel a little,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. “I don’t know if it was letting up, but they scored a goal [in the second period] and it gave them life. We’re happy we got the win.”
Goaltender Vesa Toskala made 31 saves for the Maple Leafs (3-9-5), who suffered their second defeat in a row.
Kane gave Chicago the lead with a snap shot 3:22 into the game and the Blackhawks made it 2-0 10 minutes later on Keith’s goal. Brouwer capitalized on a power play at 2:51 in the second to make it 3-0.
Kessel tried to rally Toronto by beating goaltender Cristobal Huet with just over two minutes left in the second period and scored again at 5:33 in the third. Huet finished with 29 saves.
“Huet made some big saves in the third and they had a lot of chances, you have to give them credit,” Keith said. “We have to make sure when we have a lead we make smart plays with the puck.”
CAPITALS 3, WILD 1
Brian Pothier scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period as Washington beat Minnesota 3-1 on Friday for their fourth win in a row without Alex Ovechkin.
Mike Green scored in the second period for the Capitals, Brooks Laich added an empty-net goal in the final minute, and Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves. Cal Clutterbuck scored for the Wild, 2-9-1 on the road this season.
Ovechkin has missed five games because of an upper-body injury but is expected back any day — perhaps as early as last night at New Jersey.
SABRES 2, FLAMES 1, SO
At Buffalo, New York, Jason Pominville scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout, and Ryan Miller made 25 saves for Buffalo.
Pominville beat Miikka Kiprusoff with a wrist shot that went between the goalie’s legs. Miller then stopped Rene Bourque’s attempt to secure the bonus point.
Derek Roy scored in regulation for the Sabres. Daymond Langkow scored for Calgary, and Kiprusoff made 32 saves.
THRASHERS 7, KINGS 0
At Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov each had two goals and two assists for Atlanta, while Ondrej Pavelec made 38 saves for his first career shutout.
Thrashers rookie Evander Kane, the fourth overall draft pick, also scored two goals and had an assist.
BLUE JACKETS 3, DUCKS 2, SO
At Columbus, Ohio, Rick Nash scored the shootout winner and also had a goal in regulation as Columbus edged Anaheim.
Mathieu Garon stopped both Anaheim shooters in the tiebreaker after making 32 saves in regulation and overtime.
Kristian Huselius also scored in the shootout and had a goal and an assist for Columbus.
Bobby Ryan and Todd Marchant scored for Anaheim.
ISLANDERS 4, HURRICANES 3, OT
At Raleigh, North Carolina, Kyle Okposo scored with 14.4 second left in overtime, and rookie John Tavares had his first two-goal game to help New York extend Carolina’s winless streak to 14 games — matching the franchise record.
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