Hossa Scores Twice In Win Over Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Marian Hossa scored twice, Nick Leddy got his first career NHL goal, and Corey Crawford shrugged off a shaky start to win his second NHL game in goal in Chicago's 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.
The game was marred by a scary moment in the first period when Sabres right wing Jason Pominville was carted off on a stretcher after being hit into the boards from behind by Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson with 5:42 to go.
Pominville sustained a concussion on the play, while Hjalmarsson was given a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. The Sabres were unable to capitalize on the man advantage.
Patrick Kane also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who won their first game of the season after two straight defeats.
Crawford, making his first start of the season, allowed two early goals before finishing with 32 saves in his ninth career NHL game.
Drew Stafford and Derek Roy each had a goal and assist, and Tim Connolly also scored for the Sabres, who've lost two straight after a season-opening win at Ottawa.
Ryan Miller finished with 26 saves.
Crawford helped preserve the win with a sparkling left pad save on Buffalo forward Mike Grier's attempt from the slot with just over 3 minutes to go, and the Blackhawks allowed just one shot during a Sabres power play that began with 2:28 to go and with Miller off for an extra attacker for the majority of the advantage.
With Chicago up 3-2 after two periods, Hossa notched his second of the game, and third of the season, 3:36 into the third with a wrist shot from the lower left circle that went under Miller's glove.
Connolly made it 4-3 less than 2 minutes later when he whipped a shot in from in tight.
Stafford opened the scoring just 14 seconds in when his wrist shot from the inner edge of the left circle eluded Crawford.
Roy made it 2-0 for Buffalo with his fourth of the season 2:29 later.
The Blackhawks responded with four straight goals, starting with Kane cutting the deficit in half with a power-play goal at 7:44 of the first.
Leddy tied it after his slap shot went off Buffalo defenseman Shaone Morrisonn's skate near the crease 4 minutes into the second.
Hossa gave Chicago its first lead with 1:13 remaining in the middle frame when he went in alone from the blue line and slipped a shot from the slot past Miller.
NOTES: These two teams will play again on Saturday in Chicago. It's the first time since 2002-03 they've met twice in one season. ... Sabres C Jochen Hecht played in his 700th career NHL game. ... Pominville entered the game as Buffalo's active leader in consecutive games played with 335. ... The Blackhawks won for just the second time in the past six meetings with the Sabres.
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