Ducks, Bernier stop Blackhawks' seven-game winning streak
CHICAGO -- Corey Perry scored and Jonathan Bernier made 43 saves as the Anaheim Ducks snapped the Chicago Blackhawks' seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory on Thursday night at the United Center.
Perry snapped a scoreless tie with 2:16 remaining in the second period with his 12th goal of the season and first in 11 games. Perry found himself a lane and fired a shot through traffic and to Corey Crawford's stick side that found its way into the back of the net.
The goal came immediately after the Blackhawks nearly scored on Marian Hossa's point-blank chance. Crawford finished with 25 saves for Chicago (42-19-5), which lost for only the second time in its last 14 games.
Bernier preserved the victory for the Ducks (35-22-10) in the closing two minutes when the Blackhawks pulled Crawford to give them an extra attacker.
The Ducks led after two periods despite managing only two shots over the first 20 minutes. Chicago got off 19 shots in the first period, including several at close range, but Bernier stopped them all as the Ducks went more than 18 minutes without getting a shot on goal.
NOTES: Ducks LW Nick Ritchie did not travel to Chicago after he sustained an upper-body injury Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. Coach Randy Carlyle told reporters at Thursday's morning skate that Ritchie experienced whiplash and wasn't "feeling right" and said the Ducks wanted to be cautious with the symptoms Ritchie was experiencing. ... Blackhawks F Nick Schmaltz returned to Chicago's top line after missing two games due to illness. ... D Niklas Hjalmarsson was back in the lineup after an upper-body injury kept him from playing the last four games. Hjalmarsson was paired defensively with Johnny Oduya, who made his debut in his second stint with the Blackhawks since being acquired in a trade last week with the Dallas Stars. Oduya hadn't played since the trade while recovering from an ankle injury. ... Chicago LW Andrew Desjardins, C Dennis Rasmussen, D Michal Kempny and D Michal Rozsival were scratched.