CHICAGO – No matter what goalie the Chicago Blackhawks put into their net, they are coming away with win after win.
Corey Crawford completed the task to perfection on Sunday night as he made Andrew Shaw’s goal stand up in a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets that stretched the Blackhawks’ NHL-record, season-opening point streak to 18 games.
The Blackhawks are 15-0-3 and show no signs of slowing down.
Crawford earned his seventh NHL shutout and second this season in his first start since Feb. 12. He outdueled Columbus’ Steve Mason, who stopped 26 shots including some sensational point-blank chances.
“I’m seeing the puck well,” said Crawford (8-0-3). “Everyone is doing their job, chipping in. It makes it a lot easier for me.
“Overall I felt good.”
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville thought Crawford looked just fine in his return, too.
“He was quick,” Quenneville said. “(He was) big, especially on the side-to-side plays on the power play. He tracked the puck well, looked like he wasn’t off for any time at all.
“He had a couple extras days there, got ready. A great response.”
Bruins 4, Panthers 1
In Sunrise, Florida, Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic scored first-period goals to lift Boston past the Panthers.
Chris Kelly had a power-play goal in the second, and Daniel Paille added an empty-net goal in the third. Tuukka Rask stopped 34 shots for the Bruins, who won their third straight game.
Red Wings 8, Canucks 3
In Detroit, Damien Brunner had two goals and two assists, and Joakim Andersson scored twice.
Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall had a goal and two assists each, Daniel Cleary added a goal and an assist, and Jordin Tootoo also scored for the Red Wings.
Jets 4, Devils 2
In Newark, New Jersey, Evander Kane scored a breakaway goal in the second period, and Andrew Ladd added some insurance in the third.
Zach Bogosian scored in the first period, and Grant Clitsome had a power-play goal in the second for the Jets, who have won three of the first four of a five-game trip that concludes Tuesday in New York against the Rangers.
Hurricanes 4, Islanders 2
In Uniondale, New York, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti’s first NHL goal snapped a tie midway through the third period, and Carolina rallied to beat the Islanders.
Ducks 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
In Anaheim, Ryan Getzlaf scored the tying goal in the third period and set up Corey Perry’s second of the game at 4:14 of overtime.
Flames 5, Coyotes 4
In Calgary, Jarome Iginla scored twice, and the Flames netted goals 23 seconds apart in the final 2 minutes to rally for a victory over Phoenix.
Penguins 5, Lightning 3
In Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist to lead the Penguins.