RECAP: Kane, Sharp lead Blackhawks to 4-1 rout of Ducks
Patrick Kane had two goals and an assist, and Patrick Sharp assisted on every Chicago goal in the Blackhawks' 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
Captain Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks, who beat the NHL-leading Ducks for the third straight time at Honda Center. Corey Crawford made 21 saves as Chicago controlled the meeting of Western Conference powers, taking a three-goal lead in the second period.
Rickard Rakell scored with 9:54 to play and Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots for the Ducks, who have back-to-back losses in two days after a six-game winning streak.
Shortly before Kane scored his first goal, Keith scored on what appeared to be goaltender interference by Toews during a dominant middle period by Chicago.
After getting blown out in San Jose on Thursday night, the Ducks have lost consecutive games for the second time all season, and the first since Nov. 28-29 - another back-to-back set against the Blackhawks and the Sharks.
And when the Ducks lose, they really lose: Anaheim has lost in regulation just nine times since Halloween, but eight of the nine were by at least three goals apiece.
From Sharp to Showtime. @88PKane puts the @NHLBlackhawks up 3 - 0 after 2. #CHIvsANA https://t.co/JNeksJNWor
— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2015
Andersen lost for just the fourth time in 21 games since Dec. 1.
After Rakell broke up Crawford's shutout bid, Kane scored his 25th goal on a brilliant no-look pass off the boards from Sharp. Kane has the fifth 25-goal season of his eight-year NHL career, with at least 21 goals in each season.
The Blackhawks bounced back impressively after blowing a lead in the final minutes of a 4-3 loss at Los Angeles two nights earlier in the opener of their six-game road trip.
Toews put Chicago ahead in the opening minutes, beating Andersen with an unobstructed shot on a setup from Kane. The goal was the first from Toews in Chicago's last 14 road games.
Sharp - Kane - Toews - GOAL. #CHIvsANA https://t.co/aocq0FOtdK
— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2015
Midway through the second period, Keith's shot found its way through traffic while Toews fell backward on top of Andersen, knocking down the Danish goalie. The Ducks and coach Bruce Boudreau angrily demanded a goaltender interference call, but didn't get it on an unreviewable play.
Kane made it 3-0 a few minutes later with a nasty shot for his fourth goal in five games.
Anaheim had a two-man advantage for 25 seconds during a lengthy stretch of power-play time in the third period, but got nothing until Rakell and Corey Perry walked in on Crawford for Rakell's fifth goal.
NOTES: Before the game, Anaheim assigned Colby Robak to its AHL affiliate in Norfolk after the defenseman cleared waivers. Eric Brewer is expected to return next week from his 24-game absence with a broken foot. ... Keith became the fifth defenseman in Blackhawks history to score 400 points with his goal. ... The Blackhawks are on the road until Feb. 9 while Disney on Ice occupies the United Center.
