Cristobal Huet was sharp with 29 saves and Troy
Brouwer's second-period goal wound up as the game-winner, as Chicago got by
Toronto, 3-2, at United Center.
Patrick Kane and John Madden had first-period goals for the Blackhawks, who
won their sixth in a row at home, improving to 3-0 on a four-game homestand in
the process.
"Everybody knows how tough it is to win on the road. When we're back here at
our home base we want to pile up the points as much as we can as use our crowd
to our advantage," said 'Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith, who registered two
assists.
Phil Kessel notched both goals for the Maple Leafs, who lost their second
straight game after gaining at least a point in the previous seven. Vesa
Toskala nearly matched the effort of Huet with 31 saves.
"Vesa had an outstanding night. There was nothing he could do on any of the
goals," said Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson. "He made a dozen great saves
when we needed them (but) we made a couple bonehead mistake and it cost us."
Kane got things started 3:22 in, picking the pocket of Leafs defenseman Luke
Schenn in the Toronto zone, and wheeling around for a quick wrister that found
the top right corner.
A pair of heavy-handed shots gave the 'Hawks a 3-0 advantage with Madden
lighting the lamp at 13:20 of the first and Brouwer's power-play tally coming
5 1/2 minutes into the second.
Kessel scored the next two goals to bring Toronto back within one.
First with just over two minutes to go in the middle frame, and then 5:33 into
the third on an incredible individual play.
Kessel weaved his way through the neutral zone, skating parallel with the blue
line. He crested the right circle and snapped off a blistering wrister that
beat Huet over the near shoulder.
But that's as far as the Leafs would get as Huet turned back all but one of
Toronto's 11 shots in the third period.
Game Notes
Toronto returns home to face Calgary on Saturday while Chicago ends its
homestand with a clash against the Sharks...Kessel, now has five goals in four
career games versus the Blackhawks...Kane has six goals on the year while
Kessel has four in only five games.
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