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Blackhawks defeat Capitals

Mar 19, 2012 - 3:58 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Andrew Shaw scored twice and added an assist to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals.

Bryan Bickell had a goal and two assists while Viktor Stalberg and Patrick Kane each had a goal for the Blackhawks, who have won three straight and hold a five-point lead over Phoenix and Colorado for the sixth spot in the Western Conference. Corey Crawford allowed two goals on 18 shots in the win.

"We had some good plays tonight," said Crawford. "Our defense did a good job of cutting them off and getting them off the puck when they gained the zone. With the good start the guys made it easy for me tonight."

Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble for the Capitals, who have dropped their past two and are clinging to a two-point lead for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Michal Neuvirth allowed four goals on 28 shots in the loss.

"We started the game with a few good shifts, but then they got some quick goals there and it put us on our heels," said Washington head coach Dale Hunter. "We made some poor decisions with the puck and we're just never able to recover."

The first goal of the game went to Chicago after Duncan Keith fired a shot on net from the right circle that was stopped, with the rebound going out to the slot and Shaw putting it home 3:35 in.

A bit over four minutes later it was a 2-0 game when a clear out of the Chicago zone saw Stalberg blow past the defense and catch up to the puck in the Washington end before cutting to the front and sliding the puck past Neuvirth's right pad.

The Caps cut the deficit to one just 2:22 into the second when Keith Aucoin picked off a clear at the right point and passed it over to the slot for Knuble, who one-timed it home.

Chicago, though, got the goal back at the 7:57 mark. Marian Hossa skated the puck into the Washington end through the middle, but lost control of the puck. Kane grabbed it and passed it over to Andrew Brunette, who quickly fed it back to Kane on the right of the net for the tally.

Shaw's wraparound from the left side gave Chicago a three-goal edge at the 11:33 mark, but Ovechkin cut the deficit to two when he gained the Chicago end down the left wing and danced around a defender before roofing the puck down low with 5:32 left in the second.

That was it, though, as the Caps were unable to get any closer in the third and Bickell scored with the net empty near mid-ice with 1:47 to play to seal the win.

Game Notes

Chicago plays in Columbus on Tuesday...Washington plays the fourth game of a five-game road trip in Detroit on Monday...Washington had won the previous three games against Chicago...Both teams had one power play chance in the game and neither scored.