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Sharp scores twice, Hossa returns as Hawks down Jackets

Dec 27, 2010 - 5:55 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Patrick Sharp scored twice and Marty Turco stopped 26 shots, as the Chicago Blackhawks kept rolling with a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Marian Hossa was in Chicago's lineup for the first time this month and posted two assists. He had been out since suffering a lower-body injury during a November 29 practice.

Turco hadn't played since December 13.

"Marty was a big part of that win tonight," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought he was big in that first period. He gave us a chance to get our feet under us. It was a very important game for a lot of reasons, but good to see Marty get a win."

Dave Bolland and Tomas Kopecky also lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, who have won four in a row. They have outscored opponents by a 15-5 margin during the streak.

Derick Brassard had the lone goal for Columbus, which has dropped six of its last seven. Mathieu Garon allowed all four goals on 25 shots in the loss.

"I thought we did lots of good things," Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel said. "We should have been rewarded in the first and even the second (period). You can't just be close in this league. Obviously, we're fragile again and we have to work our way out of this."

Hossa helped the Blackhawks take the lead seven minutes into the game. He skated behind the net from the right side to the left and backhanded the puck into the middle, where Kopecky wristed it past Garon.

After a scoreless second period, in which the Blackhawks' Jack Skille was unsuccessful on a penalty shot, Chicago used its power play to take control in the third.

Sharp made it a 2-0 game only 82 seconds into the period with the Blackhawks on the man-advantage. Then, about 10 minutes later, Chicago scored twice in a 37-second span.

With Columbus' Antoine Vermette in the box for a delay of game penalty, Bolland netted the Blackhawks' third goal. Bryan Bickell sent the puck from behind the net to the low inside left circle for Troy Brouwer, who drew Blue Jackets defenders to himself before passing to Bolland in the right circle. Bolland then beat a scrambling Garon at 11:10.

Moments after the ensuing faceoff, a takeaway behind the Columbus net resulted in Sharp's one-timer at 11:47.

Brassard scored on a power-play with about 2 1/2 minutes left.

Game Notes

Bickell's assist extended his point streak to six games...While Hossa was activated from injured reserve Sunday, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was placed on IR. He has not played since December 5 due to a lower-body injury...Brouwer finished with two assists...Columbus had won its last two games against the Blackhawks in Chicago.