Well, that's one way to snap out of a downswing. Led by strong performances Jonathan Toews and Corey Crawford, the Chicago Blackhawks returned to the win column with a 5-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Blackhawks vs. Canadiens 2014 results: Chicago blasts out of funk with rout in Montreal
Kris Versteeg and Jonathan Toews led the Blackhawks back to victory.
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Toews scored his 200th career goal and 450th point and Crawford stopped 28 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Despite some brilliant netminding from goalie Carey Price in the first period, the Blackhawks drew first blood with Toews' goal at 11:19. Montreal actually outshot Chicago 11-5 in the first frame but quickly fell apart in the second period. Kris Versteeg's first goal of the year highlighted a second frame where the Blackhawks outshot the Habs 17-8.
The floodgates opened in the third period. Veteran center Brad Richards made it 3-0 with an early goal before Patrick Kane scored his fourth of the year at 12:31 off a pass from Toews. Just minutes later, Bryan Bickell fed Versteeg for his second goal of the night and the final nail in Montreal's coffin.
The Canadiens were outshot 27-17 over the final two periods.
Chicago didn't emerge from the win unscathed, however. Patrick Sharp is expected to miss weeks after suffering a leg injury in the second period.
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