Blackhawks 4, Blue Jackets 3 (SO)
Viktor Stalberg scored in the third round of the shootout and Corey Crawford denied all three attempts as the Chicago Blackhawks skated to a 4-3 road triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday in a battle of the Central Division rivals.
Patrick Kane collected a goal and an assist and defenseman Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell also tallied for Chicago (42-27-8), which moved to within one point of the seventh-place Anaheim Ducks (44-28-5). The eighth-place Blackhawks are now five points up on the Calgary Flames (38-29-11) and Dallas Stars (38-27-11). The Flames travel to St. Louis to face the Blues later on Friday night.
Making his 22nd consecutive start, Crawford turned aside 31 shots in regulation and overtime - as well as denying Maksim Mayorov, Tomas Kubalik and Jakub Voracek in the shootout - to record his first career victory over the Blue Jackets.
Stalberg ended the contest after his backhander beat Mathieu Garon in the shootout.
Derick Brassard scored on a 5-on-3 power play, Samuel Pahlsson also tallied and Mayorov netted his first career NHL goal of the season for Columbus (34-31-13), which has dropped 15 of its last 18 games.
Defenseman Anton Stralman notched a career-high three assists and Garon finished with 26 saves for the Blue Jackets.