Without Crawford, Blackhawks Top Panthers 6-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists, and the Chicago Blackhawks scored a season-high three times on the power play in a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.
The Blackhawks used their potent offense to win after starting goalie Corey Crawford left in the first period because of a lower-body injury.
Marian Hossa, Brent Seabrook and Brandon Saad each had goal and an assist, and Michal Handzus and Andrew Shaw also scored. Patrick Kane had three assists for Chicago, which ended a three-game losing streak — its longest regular-season skid since February 2012.
Rookie Antti Raanta, recalled after veteran backup Nikolai Khabublin was injured on Nov. 16, stopped 29 of 31 shots for the win in relief of Crawford, who made four saves.
Crawford was forced out with 6:15 left in the first, and the Blackhawks ahead 2-0, moments after he went down to make a right pad save on Marcel Goc.
He was unable to get back up on his skates, and had to be helped from the ice by teammates and a trainer.
Raanta was able to finish the game despite being elbowed in the head by Florida's Jimmy Hayes in a collision midway through the third period.
Dylan Olsen and Goc scored for Florida. Scott Clemmensen made 26 saves in his third start and fifth appearance this season.
The Blackhawks went 3-for-4 on the power-play and stopped all five Florida advantages.
Olsen, a defenseman who was traded from Chicago to Florida on Nov. 14, connected in his first game against his former team.
Sharp and Seabrook scored power-play goals in the first period to give Chicago a 2-0 lead.
Sharp opened the scoring 1:10 in. His shot from the top of the slot sailed past Clemmensen.
Seabrook made it 2-0 when he pinched to the right circle, took a cross-ice pass from Saad, and fired in a low shot.
Raanta made a couple of close-in saves late in the first to preserve the lead.
Hossa increased Chicago's advantage to 3-0 just 37 seconds into the second, popping in a rebound of Sharp's shot.
Olsen cut it to 3-1 at 4:05 when he closed in from the left point and beat Raanta with a high screened shot.
Goc trimmed it to 3-2 with an unassisted goal after Raanta failed to clear the puck off the boards.
Handzus' goal with 2:34 left in the second made it 4-2.
Shaw's power-play goal at 2:44 of the third, extended Chicago's lead to three goals.
Hayes knocked off Raanta's mask at 8:39 of the third when he drove hard to the net.
Saad completed the scoring on a breakaway with 56 seconds left.
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