Final
Blackhawks down Wild, win franchise-best 10th straight
Mar 6, 2013 - 7:28 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan Bickell scored twice in a four-goal first period and Patrick Kane added an insurance goal in the third, as the Chicago Blackhawks stretched their streak to 23 games with at least a point in a 5-3 decision over Minnesota at United Center.Brandon Saad added a score and two assists, while Marian Hossa lit the lamp for the Blackhawks (20-0-3), who also set a new franchise record with their 10th consecutive win. Chicago's previous mark was nine, set from Dec. 7-28, 2008.
"It doesn't feel like we're on a streak," Bickell said. "We're just business, come to the rink and we're going to do what we need to do."
Corey Crawford made 20 saves to run his record to 11-0-3 this year.
Devin Setoguchi, Ryan Suter and Kyle Brodziak scored for the Wild, who lost for the third time in their last six.
"Once they get their momentum going, they're tough to slow down," Suter said.
Niklas Backstrom was punctured four times on 17 shots in the opening 20 minutes. Darcy Kuemper finished up yielding one goal on 15 shots.
Suter's first with Minnesota pulled the visitors within 4-2 on a power play with 3:10 gone in the third period, and things became interesting with 9:28 remaining when Brodziak dove at the right post to knock in a loose puck for a one-goal contest.
Kane restored order for the hosts just over a minute later, slamming home a Patrick Sharp rebound from the slot to make it 5-3. Crawford kept the Wild off the board from there.
Chicago put any talk of slowing down to rest in the first period, scoring four times after the Wild notched the game's initial goal.
Setoguchi lit the lamp at 8:22, but goals 44 seconds apart by Saad and Bickel gave the hosts a 2-1 edge.
Bickell struck again with 2:48 remaining and Hossa closed out the barrage with 1:15 on the clock to make it 4-1.
In a scoreless middle frame, Kuemper made 11 stops and Crawford needed to stop only four pucks.
Game Notes
Chicago's four-goal opening salvo tied a season high, first accomplished on Feb. 7 against Phoenix ... Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland returned to the lineup after a five-game absence with an upper-body injury ... The 'Hawks look to continue their magical run by hosting Colorado on Wednesday ... In a pre- game ceremony, the Blackhawks honored Hossa for having played his 1,000th NHL game this past Sunday ... Suter, who signed a 13-year free-agent deal in the offseason, recorded 14 assists in 21 prior games this year.
- MINNESOTA: 3
CHICAGO: 5
Final
Mar 5 11:13 PM - Chicago Goal - Patrick Kane (12), from Patrick Sharp at 11:33.
Wild 3, Blackhawks 5 3rd - 8:27Mar 5 10:54 PM - MINNESOTA: 1
CHICAGO: 4
End of 2nd
Mar 5 10:16 PM - MINNESOTA: 1
CHICAGO: 4
End of 1st
Mar 5 9:22 PM - MINNESOTA: 0
CHICAGO: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Mar 5 8:46 PM
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