Ducks Beat Blackhawks In Shootout, 3-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Bonino and Kyle Palmieri scored in the shootout to help the Anaheim Ducks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday night, sending the defending Stanley Cup champions to their third consecutive loss.
Bonino matched Jonathan Toews' goal in the first round of the tiebreaker, and Palmieri beat Antti Raanta with a backhand after Jonas Hiller stopped Patrick Sharp at the other end.
Hiller then made another save on Patrick Kane to give Anaheim the win after it lost its previous two games in a shootout.
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf scored in regulation for the Ducks, and Hiller finished with 23 saves.
Raanta had 24 stops in his first home game. It was the first NHL shootout for the rookie, who won each of his first two starts. He looked as if he could have stopped Bonino's attempt in the tiebreaker, but it trickled under him for the score.
Ben Smith and Kris Versteeg scored for Chicago, which trailed 1-0 and 2-1, but rallied each time.
It's the first three-game losing streak for the Blackhawks during the regular season since February 2012. They also lost three in a row against Detroit in the playoffs last year, but managed to advance in seven games on their way to the title.
Getzlaf snapped a 1-1 tie at 10:05 of the second, using a screen by Perry to send a slap shot through Raanta's legs. Getzlaf's 15th goal came with Johnny Oduya in the penalty box for closing his hand on the puck.
Anaheim remained in front until Bryan Allen was sent off for boarding Toews. The Blackhawks made the most of the power-play opportunity, with Versteeg beating Hiller into the upper right corner with 2:12 to go in the second.
Versteeg's second goal since he was reacquired in a trade with Florida on Nov. 14 stopped a streak of 26 consecutive kills for the Ducks.
Each team had ample opportunities to move in front in the third, but Hiller and Raanta took turns turning away prime chances. Hiller denied a streaking Sharp right in front of the goal, and Raanta grabbed a slap shot by Matt Beleskey.
Hiller also made a terrific kick save on Toews about 35 seconds into overtime, and the Ducks had a potential winning goal waved off for goalie interference.
Perry put Anaheim in front with some tough work in front of the Chicago goal in the first period. The 2011 NHL MVP lost his stick for a brief moment, but picked it up in time to tip Getzlaf's shot by Raanta right as he was hit by Oduya.
It was Perry's team-best 17th goal of the season. Getzlaf leads Anaheim with 19 assists and has at least one point in each of his past 12 games.
It was the third consecutive game that Chicago had surrendered the first goal, but Smith had a quick response for the Blackhawks.
Kane nudged the puck back near the right faceoff circle, and then got out of the way as Smith charged in and beat Hiller for his fourth goal just 45 seconds after Perry's score.
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