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Keith, Adams shorthanders help Blackhawks hold off Blues

Mar 30, 2008 - 5:24 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- All-Star defenseman Duncan Keith and Craig Adams each had a goal and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks posted a much-needed 4-3 victory over the woeful St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

Andrew Ladd and rookie Jonathan Toews also scored for the Blackhawks (37-33-8), who climbed within four points of idle Nashville (39-31-8) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with just four games remaining.

"It's a big win and it keeps us in," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said. "We came in to do a job, to get two points, and we got it. We stuck to our game plan. We showed a lot of discipline and battled."

"It's a good team win," Toews added. "The way we just stayed alive, even when they had the momentum. We got the two points and now need four with four to play. We have to take it game by game, and that's what we've been doing." Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 31 shots for Chicago.

Brad Boyes had a goal and two assists while Keith Tkachuk and Paul Kariya also tallied for St. Louis, which will miss the postseason for a third straight season.

The Blackhawks, who managed just 17 shots in a 4-0 loss to Columbus on Wednesday, jumped to a 1-0 lead just 1:40 into the game as Ladd poked a loose puck past All-Star goaltender Manny Legace from the left side of the crease.

Toews doubled the advantage with his 22nd of the season with 4:34 left in the opening period as he fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle past a screened Legace.

Chicago then did what it does best - score shorthanded goals.

St. Louis rookie defenseman Erik Johnson broke his stick on a slap shot during a power play and turned over the puck to Keith, who beat Legace between the pads with a slap shot from above the left circle at 15:12 of the second period for a 3-0 bulge.

The Blackhawks then took advantage of another turnover, as Kariya lost the puck at the blue line, and Adams scored his fourth of the season on a breakaway just 2:04 into the third for a four-goal cushion.

The goals by Keith and Adams gave Chicago a league-leading 16 shorthanders. They also proved to be crucial as St. Louis staged a comeback attempt.

"I didn't know that we were going to need them," Adams said. "Luckily, we had those shorthanded goals. It's just the way the bounces go. This keeps us alive with a sliver of hope."

Tkachuk got the Blues on the board with his 24th goal of the season at 6:11 of the period and Boyes tipped a pass between Khabibulin's pads for his 41st tally with 4:58 remaining.

Kariya made things interesting by firing a wrist shot from the right circle into the right corner of the net with just 2:40 left. St. Louis pulled Legace for an extra attacker late but could not get the equalizer.

Legace stopped 15 shots for the Blues, who held a 34-19 edge in shots.

"I was horrible, plain and simple," Legace said. "I didn't play well tonight. It's a tough pill to swallow when your power play isn't where you want it to be, and then you let up those goals on top of it. I have to make some saves."