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Defensemen key Blackhawks in win over Blue Jackets

Nov 8, 2007 - 5:46 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Blackhawks received an unexpected bonus from their defensemen on Wednesday.

Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and James Wisniewski each scored a goal to help the Blackhawks defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-2, in a matchup of Central Division rivals.

Jonathan Toews, the third overall pick of the 2006 draft, added his sixth goal of the season for Chicago, which won for the third time in four games.

"We are finding ways to win games," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said. "Coming back again (in) the third period after we lose a lead is a great sign."

The regulation loss was Columbus' first in seven contests.

"We didn't play with the sense of desperation we have played with in the past," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Our forwards didn't do the job they have done all season. We played a very loose game and paid for it."

Seabrook's tally just over nine minutes into the third period served as the game-winner.

With the game tied at 2-2, Tuomo Ruutu fed a streaking Seabrook in stride at the blue line. Seabrook cut between defensemen Jan Hejda and Adam Foote before backhanding a shot over the right shoulder of goaltender Frederik Norrena to give Chicago the lead.

"I was just able to jump through their line and get a good shot off," Seabrook said. "Luckily, it went in. It was a big goal for our team."

Keith scored just over two minutes later to give the Blackhawks a two-goal cushion. Dave Bolland picked up a loose puck in the corner and fed Keith alone at the far goalpost for an uncontested tally with 8:47 remaining in the period.

Wisniewski gave Chicago a 1-0 lead 8:29 into the second session.

Robert Lang gained the offensive zone before dropping the puck to Jason Williams, who carried it across the slot. Williams then passed it back to Wisniewski, who sent a backhander along the ice that beat Norrena.

"It was a series of passes that nobody expected," Wisniewski said. "Robert dropped it to Jason, and he wasn't expecting the puck, and then he dropped it to me. So I just shot and it went in. It was a cool goal."

It was Wisniewski's fourth goal of the season.

Columbus tallied twice in an 85-second span to gain a 2-1 advantage just 2:36 into the third period.

Defenseman Rostislav Klesla wristed a shot from the left faceoff circle that sailed over the left shoulder of netminder Patrick Lalime to tie the game at 1-1. It was Klesla's second goal of the campaign.

From in front of the net, Nikolai Zherdev deflected Michael Peca's shot past Lalime to give Columbus the lead.

"Early in the third period, we did what we wanted to do and started attacking the net more," Columbus center Dan Fritsche said. "Then we just lost our focus and had some defensive breakdowns."

Toews evened the game at 2-2 after receiving a cross-ice pass at the top of the right faceoff circle from Ruutu and wristing the puck over the glove of Norrena and just inside the far post at 7:16.

"I saw Jonathan coming wide and got him the puck," Ruutu said. "But the goal was all about his shot, he took a great shot."

Patrick Sharp was credited with a shorthanded empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining to cap the scoring. It was Sharp's third shorthander of the season, tying him with Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson and Dallas' Niklas Hagman for the league lead.

Norrena made 30 saves for Columbus, while Lalime stopped 24 shots for Chicago.

"We played 60 minutes of hockey tonight," Lalime said. "The penalty-killers were great in front of me, too."