It was like old times in Chicago Sunday afternoon. Jonathan Toews had a hat trick and five points to help the Blackhawks upend the visiting Washington Capitals.
“It gives our team confidence when you see goals go in,” Toews said. “We played the way we played [today] in front of our fans, we hear the horn and the fans responding. It’s nice to play an exciting game in front of them and get a little something to cheer for.”
To add to reminiscence was Patrick Kane who kicked in two goals and five points of his own.
“Yeah it was a fun game. Kind of like a playoff-type atmosphere, playoff-type game,” said Kane, who is two points from 900 in the NHL. “It was back and forth, it seemed like no matter how big our lead, we couldn’t make it big enough to feel comfortable. Overall I think it was a good win for us.”
All that fun led to an 8-5 win for the Hawks.
If only for a game it was still fun to watch.
Collin Delia made 34 saves to get the win as the Blackhawks ended a five-game skid.
On the Caps’ side of the ledger, all the offense came from the blue line.
The loss was their fifth straight and it has gotten ugly.
“There are enough areas where, some nights we clean up one thing and get worse at a couple of others,” John Carlson (two goals) said. “Can’t seem to find that consistent balance, and, for me, we haven’t been great starting a lot of these games. Feels like we’re down a man the first shift or give up the goal first shift, stuff like that.”
Defensemen Brooks Orpik, Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen all scored for the Caps.
Washington did make a run late in the third period to close the gap to 6-5 Toews picked up his third and an empty-net goal sealed it late.
“It’s nice because sometimes you give up goals like that, teams are feeling it, they have the momentum,” Toews said. “Things aren’t looking so good, it’s tough to protect a one-goal lead when you got that much time on the clock. I think we did a good job of trying to turn it around and keep that momentum in the third period.”
The Caps dropped 27-16-5.
“It’s a tough time right now, we just have to get over it, get a win. Doesn’t matter how we play, where we play. Just have to get a win.” the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin said after the loss.
Brandon Saad, Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat also scored for Chicago.
[WATCH: All Capitals vs. Blackhawks highlights]
Braden Holtby got the start and surrendered four goals before being given the hook early in the middle frame; he had seven saves before departing.
“Something that I take responsibility for, that first goal (Saad), if you make a save there, it changes the game around,” Holtby said. “Little plays like that have a big effect, something that’s on my shoulders.”
Pheonix Copley finished up with 14 saves.
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