Chicago won a shootout to claim a rare 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, leaving both teams positioned just off the lead in their divisions heading into the NHL’s All-Star break.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane both scored in the shootout for the Blackhawks, who moved within three points of the Central Division lead, while one point edged the Penguins within three of the Metropolitan Division summit.
Chicago’s Toews flipped a shot between goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s legs in the first round of the shootout, and Kane followed with a wrist shot over the goalie’s glove to help the Blackhawks win in Pittsburgh for just the second time in 17 years.
David Rundblad and Marian Hossa scored in regulation time for Chicago, while Zach Sill and Steve Downie scored for Pittsburgh, who limped into the break with four straight losses.
The day’s other key games came in the Pacific Division, with Anaheim stretching their lead to 12 points by convincingly beating Vancouver, while San Jose won at home against Los Angeles.
Anaheim had their fifth straight win when they beat Calgary 6-3.
Ben Lovejoy had a goal and an assist, while Frederik Andersen made 30 saves for the Ducks, who have won their past 20 home games against the Canucks.
Kyle Palmieri and Patrick Maroon scored in a three-goal first period, while Ryan Getzlaf, Tim Jackman and Ryan Kesler also scored as Anaheim went into the break with the league’s best record, 31-10-6.
Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan and Joe Colborne scored as the Flames’ four-game winning streak ended in the finale of a five-game Pacific Division trip.
San Jose set aside its home ice jitters — five losses in six games — to beat Los Angeles 4-2.
Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski scored power-play goals, while Logan Couture scored twice for the Sharks.
Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter scored for the Kings, who have lost seven of eight, although four came after regulation.
Colorado’s Ryan O’Reilly tied the game with 1 minute, 45 seconds left in regulation, and Nathan MacKinnon had the only goal in the shootout as the Avalanche rallied to beat Boston 3-2.
Winnipeg won a fifth straight home game by downing Columbus 4-0, with Jets rookie goaltender Michael Hutchinson making 29 saves in the shutout.
Elsewhere, Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson scored twice as the Senators edged Toronto 4-3.
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