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Toews, Blackhawks top Kings

Dec 20, 2010 - 6:28 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jonathan Toews scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at United Center.

Fernando Pisani and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks, who are 7-3-1 in their last 11 games, including wins in the last two. Patrick Sharp had a pair of assists, while Corey Crawford had 26 saves in the victory.

"These games are all about momentum," Keith said. "Whether it's shift to shift or period to period it's all about momentum."

Wayne Simmonds recorded a goal and an assist for the Kings, who have lost three of five. Kyle Clifford also scored, and Jonathan Quick allowed all three goals on 24 shots in defeat.

"We need to come out and play consistent and play, as a team, better. There are no excuses...We need to do better," Clifford said.

After the Kings tied the game early in the second period, the Blackhawks responded 25 seconds later to take the lead for good.

Keith held the puck at the point as the Hawks assembled a screen in front of Quick. The Chicago blueliner unleashed a low slapshot from the left point that made its way through traffic at the 1:59 mark for a 2-1 advantage.

With 7:35 left in the frame, Pisani picked up a loose puck in the slot from a 3-on-2 rush and beat Quick on the short side for a two-goal margin heading to the third.

Simmonds brought the Kings within one 1:20 into the third when he took a feed from Anze Kopitar down low and lifted it over Crawford into the roof of the net, but Crawford was strong down the stretch.

Los Angeles outshot the Hawks, 11-4, in the third period, but Crawford was able to stop 10 of them to maintain Chicago's lead. Dustin Brown was called for a boarding penalty with 2:47 remaining, cutting into the Kings' desperation attack time.

Toews put Chicago on the board with a wrister from the right circle at 11:30 of the opening period, but the Kings tied it 1:34 into the second.

Los Angeles had an odd-man rush after a failed clear by Chicago, and Michal Handzus carried into the offensive zone and dished to Clifford, who drove in from the left side and used a forehand-to-backhand move to put the puck past Crawford.

Game Notes

Neither team scored on the power play; Chicago went 0-for-3 and Los Angeles went 0-for-1...The Blackhawks improved to 10-9-0 at home, while the Kings fell to 7-10-0 on the road...Chicago leads the season series, 3-0, and has won the last five in the series.