Blackhawks win in clash of NHL leaders

The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Anaheim Ducks in Friday’s clash of the NHL’s two top teams with a 4-2 victory.

Cam Fowler of the Ducks tries to take down Marian Hossa of the Blackhawks [AFP]

Marian Hossa scored twice for the Blackhawks in a 4-2 victory that handed the Ducks only their second loss in the past 20 games.

The Blackhawks opened widened their lead atop the Central Division and moved within four points of Anaheim for the overall league and Western Conference leads.

In the day’s other game, Columbus notched its fifth-straight win by breezing past Washington.

Chicago also got goals from Kris Versteeg and Bryan Bickell as the hosts ended a run of five consecutive losses against the Ducks.

Fifth-straight win

With Chicago cruising 3-0, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf scored with 6:13 left, and Kyle Palmieri connected on a 40-foot shot 53 seconds later to make it close before Hossa scored into an empty net with 7.6 seconds left.

Columbus’ Cam Atkinson scored twice and Sergei Bobrovsky continued his hot streak to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-1 win over Washington.

Ryan Johansen added a goal and assist, James Wisniewski had a goal, Mark Letestu scored for the fifth time in six games and Jack Johnson had two assists for the Blue Jackets, who had lost their past five meetings with Washington.

The Capitals, who got a goal from John Carlson, have lost four in a row.

Source: AP