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Blackhawks beat Blues, keep point streak alive

Mar 1, 2013 - 4:33 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jonathan Toews tallied twice, while Corey Crawford and Ray Emery combined on a 21-save shutout, as the Chicago Blackhawks kept their historic start rolling with a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at Scottrade Center.

Crawford stopped all six shots he faced in the first, but appeared wobbly as he went to the locker room at intermission. Emery entered to start the second and saved 15 shots over the final two frames to extend Chicago's record-setting, season-opening point streak to 20 games at 17-0-3.

Andrew Shaw scored once and Marian Hossa added a pair of helpers in the Blackhawks' seventh straight victory overall.

Jaroslav Halak allowed all three goals on 23 shots for the Blues, who have dropped three of their last four games.

"We needed a better performance," Blues captain David Backes admitted. "It's as plain as that, and we didn't have it."

Toews' first tally came just 12 seconds into the contest, as he won the opening faceoff to get things started. Hossa then skated into the zone and fed Brandon Saad on the low left side before Saad slid a centering feed that a cutting Toews redirected with his skate to make it 1-0.

"To get that lead early in the game like that is a nice boost," Toews said. "As a line it especially gave us some confidence that we can go out there and not have to chase the puck all night."

St. Louis nearly found the equalizer after Chicago forward Brandon Bollig was whistled for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct at the 5:39 mark, but Emery got some help from the post before making a pair of big saves to keep his team in front.

The Blackhawks then opened things up on a pair of third-period goals, with the first coming just over two minutes in.

Bryan Bickell came up with a steal behind the St. Louis net and fed Shaw for a one-timer from the slot that sailed past Halak to double Chicago's advantage at the 2:11 mark.

Toews padded the cushion later in the third when Nick Leddy ripped a shot from the top of the left circle that was stopped by Halak, but the Chicago captain was there in front to pound home the rebound for a 3-0 lead at 6:56.

Game Notes

Crawford left with an upper-body injury and was listed following the game as day-to-day ... Chicago's last shutout in St. Louis came on Feb. 9, 1995 with Ed Belfour in net for a 5-0 victory ... Chicago has won four straight against St. Louis, including a 3-2 decision on Jan. 22 in Chicago ... St. Louis failed on all four of its power-play opportunities, while Chicago finished 0-for-1 on the man advantage.