The Chicago Blackhawks found a way to overcome having the worst penalty-killing unit in the NHL -- by scoring short-handed goals.
"What a big lift, short-handed goals," Blackhawks coach Dirk Graham said after his team got two of them -- the first two Anaheim allowed all season -- to beat the Mighty Ducks 4-1 Thursday night in Chicago."Short-handed goals can swing a game very easily. It was just important for us to kill off penalties. It's just really difficult to win without good special teams."
Chicago played what Graham said was its best defensive game of the season and got two goals each from Alex Zhamnov and Chad Kilger to match a season-best two-game winning streak.
"If we want to find a playoff spot, we have to start winning -- and fast," said goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who stopped 24 shots in his first appearance at the United Center since joining the Blackhawks in a trade from Montreal. "If we play defensively like we did tonight, we'll win a lot of games."
Thursday night's loss extended the Mighty Ducks' winless streak to five games (0-4-1).
SENATORS 3, KINGS 1: Alexei Yashin scored midway through the third period and Ron Tugnutt made 31 saves to lead the Ottawa over Los Angeles.
FLAMES 4, LIGHTNING 1: Theoren Fleury scored two goals as Calgary handed the Tampa Bay its ninth consecutive loss.
Derek Morris and Jarome Iginla also scored for the Flames, who have won two straight.