Blackhawks take down struggling Blue Jackets

Columbus, OH – Jonathan Toews scored a pair of goals and game skid with a 3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Andrew Brunette, Steve Montador, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa also scored for the Blackhawks, who got 27 saves from Corey Crawford.

Grant Clitsome scored twice and Mark Letestu added a goal for the Blue Jackets, who have lost 13 of 15 games to start the season.

Steve Mason stopped 30 shots in defeat.

Toews' wrister in front of the net gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead 6:54 into the opening period.

Minutes later, Clitsome's long power play slap shot tied the game, but Chicago reeled off five unanswered goals to secure the bounceback victory.

Toews' sharp-angle wrister near the icing line came late in the first and Brunette snuck from behind the net on the power play to bury a rebound for a 3-1 lead early in the second.

At the midway point of the middle period, Montador took advantage of the power play, receiving a pass from Duncan Keith and burying a high, glove-side snap shot.

Later, Dan Carcillo found Kane for a breakaway backhand and a 5-1 advantage at the second intermission.

Hossa and Letestu, who was acquired from the Penguins earlier this week, tallied early in the third and Clitsome added a goal late in regulation to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

The Blackhawks lead the season series 2-0. They won the first meeting between the teams, 5-2, on October 29...Kane has eight points in his last six games...Chicago has won four straight at Nationwide Arena.