CHICAGO — Patrick Kane scored three targets for his first hat trick of the season, and the Chicago Blackhawks stopped a four-game slide by topping the Minnesota Wild 5-Three on Sunday night time.
Brandon Saad and David Kampf additionally scored for Chicago, which was coming off a heartbreaking loss at St. Louis. The last-place Blackhawks had dropped seven of 9 total.
Kevin Fiala scored twice for Minnesota within the opener of a three-game journey. Eric Staal additionally scored, and Ryan Suter had three assists.
The sport was tied at Three within the third interval when Saad muscled his technique to his 11th objective of the season. The rugged ahead was grappling with Minnesota defenceman Matt Dumba in entrance when he managed to tip Connor Murphy’s shot from the fitting level previous Kaapo Kahkonen with 6:17 left.
Connor Murphy, Chicago Blackhawks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Kane then added an empty-netter with 1:03 left, finishing his sixth profession regular-season hat trick. He has a team-high 18 targets.
Kane additionally scored Saturday night time, serving to the Blackhawks open a Three-Zero lead within the third at St. Louis. However the Stanley Cup champions roared again for a Four-Three victory.
The Wild, who beat Philadelphia Four-1 on Saturday night time, dropped to 10-2-Four of their previous 16 video games.
Kane bought his first objective when he poked in a rebound of his personal wraparound shot 7:42 into the primary. It was a detailed name on the submit and play was allowed to proceed, however a replay evaluation confirmed the puck crossed the road earlier than Kahkonen knocked it away.
Kane then made it 2-Zero when he scored from the excessive slot at 11:33 on an influence play. Kane’s shot went off Suter’s stick earlier than going into the web.
Chicago Blackhawks proper wing Patrick Kane (AP Photograph/Kelvin Kuo)
Chicago rookie Kirby Dach was despatched off for hooking simply 11 seconds after Kane’s second objective, and Minnesota took benefit. Staal transformed a one-timer off a move from Suter for his 12th at 12:37.
Fiala bought every of his targets within the second. He beat Lehner on a breakaway for his seventh at 1:59. After Kampf redirected Connor Murphy’s shot previous Kahkonen at eight:13, Fiala tied it once more when his centring move went off the surface of Blackhawks defenceman Olli Maatta’s proper skate and thru the legs of Lehner with 5:40 left within the interval.
NOTES
Wild G Devan Dubnyk, C Mikko Koivu (decrease physique) and D Jared Spurgeon (hand) are on the journey and anticipated to apply Monday. Dubnyk’s spouse is coping with a critical medical situation, and he hasn’t performed since Nov. 16. “I believe when he does get in that he’s going to be fantastic,” coach Bruce Boudreau mentioned. “Simply bought to get some apply time for him.” … Blackhawks D Duncan Keith (groin) is skating once more, however coach Jeremy Colliton mentioned he doesn’t have a agency return date at this level. … Wild F Joel Eriksson Ek (upper-body damage) didn’t journey with the group. Boudreau mentioned he may be capable of play on the present highway journey.
UP NEXT
Wild: Go to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night time.
Blackhawks: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night time.
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Jay Cohen will be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Jay Cohen, The Related Press
