Williams Helps Blackhawks Top Wild 4-2
Chicago Blackhawks' Andrew Ladd, center, jumps over Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, left, of Finland, as Wild defensman Kim Johnsson, right, of Sweden, defends on a shot attempt during the first period of a NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
(Tom Olmscheid - AP)
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008; 11:03 PM
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Jason Williams had a goal and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks snapped the Minnesota Wild's three-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Tuesday night.
Dustin Byfuglien, Duncan Keith and Craig Adams scored for Chicago, which got its eighth win in 11 games and first in Minnesota since March 29, 2002. The Blackhawks entered Tuesday six points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and take on conference foes Anaheim on Wednesday and San Jose on Friday.
Pavol Demitra and Stephane Veilleux had goals for Minnesota, which had won three straight after losing its previous four.
The Wild came out strong as Marian Gaborik stopped on a dime and passed to Demitra, who scored early in the first period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
A fluke Blackhawks goal halted the Wild's momentum only 25 seconds later. Willams' centering pass ricocheted off Minnesota's Eric Belanger and past a surprised Niklas Backstrom to tie it.
Keith gave Chicago the lead at 7:40 of the second after a replay review made his goal count after it was initially waved off because of a high stick.
Minnesota never seemed to get back on track after that. Chicago goalie Patrick Lalime denied the Wild's best chance to regain control of the game when Demitra and Gaborik got free on a 2-0 breakaway with just over five minutes left in the second.
Demitra dropped a pass to the streaking Gaborik, and Lalime jabbed his left pad out to deny him. Lalime stopped 28 shots.
Byfuglien, a native of Roseau, Minn., took a pass from Williams and made it 3-1 on a power play early in the third.
Veilleux cut it to 3-2 with 13 minutes left in the third, but Minnesota was unable to tie it.
Adams sealed it with an empty-netter with 15.2 seconds remaining.
Notes:@ Chicago rookie Jonathan Toews played despite needing 50 stitches under his nose and in his mouth after being hit by Vancouver's Matt Pettinger on Sunday. Toews started the game wearing a metal face cage, but switched to a glass shield after the first period. ... Defensemen Kurtis Foster (back) and Peterri Nummelin (groin) were both scratches for Minnesota. ... Corey Crawford is expected to make his first start of the season in net for Chicago on Wednesday against Anaheim. ... Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress watched the game from a private suite.
