Music: {allcanada} Kane, Raanta lead Blackhawks past Maple Leafs

Sunday, December 21, 2014

{allcanada} Kane, Raanta lead Blackhawks past Maple Leafs

It's a Wonderful Life / The Polar Express

CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-0 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs at United Center on Sunday.

Antti Raanta earned the win, his fourth in as many starts, and made 31 saves to record his second shutout and third of his career. Chicago forward Patrick Sharp had three assists.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead late in the first period on goals scored by defenseman David Rundblad and forward Kris Versteeg, who centered the second line in place of injured center Brad Richards (upper body).

Kane and Jonathan Toews each scored in the third to assure the Blackhawks of a split in the two-game season series. James Reimer, who befuddled Chicago on Nov. 1 in the first game, made 30 saves in the defeat. After losing 7-4 to the Philadelphia Flyers at Air Canada Centre on Saturday, Toronto goalies allowed 11 combined goals in their weekend back-to-back set.

Toronto (19-12-3) lost its third straight game after having a season-high six straight-game win streak snapped. Chicago (23-9-2) split its weekend back-to-back set and improved to 16-3-1 in the past 20 games.

In their first game against Toronto, Reimer made 45 saves and denied the Blackhawks on 26 shots in the third period. Chicago beat him twice in its first 12 shots Sunday to build a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Rundblad and Versteeg scored 4:29 apart to finish the period. Rundblad scored his first goal with the Blackhawks and second of his career. Versteeg beat the clock at 19:59 for the second goal, after kicking a pass from Kane to his forehand and beating Reimer over the glove into the top right corner.

The Maple Leafs had a couple of close calls in the second, but couldn't get a puck past Raanta. The nearest they came to scoring happened with 8:05 left in the period, when forward Daniel Winnik tipped a shot from in front of the crease. It hit the right post, bounced back into the blue paint and Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook cleared it to end the scoring chance.

In the third, Chicago killed off a key power play before getting the goals by Kane and Toews to seal it. It was Kane's fourth goal and 10th point in the past six games.

A moment of silence was held before the game for assistant equipment manager Clint Reif, 34, who died after returning with the team from Columbus. The Blackhawks honored him by wearing "CR" stickers on the back of their helmets. No details were released about Reif's death. He spent nine seasons in the Blackhawks organization and seven as assistant equipment manager. Reif is survived by his wife, Kelly, and four children.

A Charlie Brown Christmas / All I Want for Christmas