Blackhawks hang on to edge Maple Leafs
Chicago 3, Toronto 2
Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009Chicago, IL - Cristobal Huet was sharp with 29 saves and Troy Brouwer's second-period goal wound up as the game-winner, as Chicago got by Toronto, 3-2, at United Center.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (R) battles Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith for the puck in the second period of their NHL hockey game in Chicago, November 13, 2009.
Photograph by : Reuters
Patrick Kane and John Madden had first-period goals for the Blackhawks, who won their sixth in a row at home, improving to 3-0 on a four-game homestand in the process.
Phil Kessel notched both goals for the Maple Leafs, who lost their second straight game after gaining at least a point in the previous seven. Vesa Toskala nearly matched the effort of Huet with 31 saves.
Kane got things started 3:22 in, picking the pocket of Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn in the Toronto zone, and wheeling around for a quick wrister that found the top right corner.
A pair of heavy-handed shots gave the 'Hawks a 3-0 advantage with Madden lighting the lamp at 13:20 of the first and Brouwer's power-play tally coming 5 1/2 minutes into the second.
Kessel scored the next two goals to bring Toronto back within one.
First with just over two minutes to go in the middle frame, and then 5:33 into the third on an incredible individual play.
Kessel weaved his way through the neutral zone, skating parallel with the blue line. He crested the right circle and snapped off a blistering wrister that beat Huet over the near shoulder.
But that's as far as the Leafs would get as Huet turned back all but one of Toronto's 11 shots in the third period.
Game Notes
Toronto returns home to face Calgary on Saturday while Chicago ends its homestand with a clash against the Sharks...Kessel, now has five goals in four career games versus the Blackhawks...Kane has six goals on the year while Kessel has four in only five games...Chicago's Duncan Keith registered two assists.




