Chicago's special teams help beat the Blues

Associated Press

Published November 10, 2007 at midnight

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CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks got off to a fast start against the Blues, and their special teams were special enough to hold off St. Louis.

Rookie Patrick Kane and Jim Vandermeer scored power-play goals and the Blackhawks beat the Blues 4-2 on Friday night.

The Blackhawks went 2-for-4 with the advantage. Kane, the NHL's rookie scoring leader and first overall pick in the 2007 draft, also recorded an assist.

Rene Bourque scored short- handed and Yanic Perreault added an empty-net goal for Chicago. Goalie Patrick Lalime, making consecutive starts for the first time this season, stopped 23 shots to help the Blackhawks win their second straight.

"Our power play was awesome for us again," Chicago coach Denis Savard said. "The first 30 minutes we were very good - not that we weren't good in the last 30 - but in the first 30 it was just good puck management."

The Blackhawks pressured St. Louis and goalie Manny Legace early. He made 27 saves, including numerous tough chances, to keep the game close.

After the Blues cut Chicago's lead to 3-2, Lalime helped keep St. Louis at bay until Perreault fired in the clincher with 1:04 left in the third period.

"When we needed goals, the power play was there again," Lalime said. "It's fun to be part of this, to be contributing."

Steve Wagner and David Perron each had a power-play goal and an assist for the Blues.

Blackhawks 4, Blues 2

First period - 1, StL, Wagner 2 (Perron, Stempniak), 11:27 (pp). 2, Chi, Kane 6 (Williams, Byfuglien), 15:54 (pp). 3, Chi, Vandermeer 1 (Samsonov, Wisniewski), 18:49 (pp). Penalties - Lalime, Chi, served by Kane (tripping), 9:40; Perron, StL (holding), 15:17; Tkachuk, StL (roughing), 17:06; Ruutu, Chi (holding), 19:18.

Second period - 4, Chi, Bourque 1 (Keith, Sharp), 0:16 (sh). 5, StL, Perron 2 (Rucinsky, Wagner), 11:17 (pp). Penalties - McKee, StL (hooking), 4:00; Byfuglien, Chi (holding), 10:05; Sharp, Chi (goalie interference), 18:02; Williams, Chi (hooking), 19:51.

Third period - 6, Chi, Perreault 2 (Kane, Lang), 18:56 (en). Penalties - Seabrook, Chi (slashing), 7:09; Wagner, StL (interference), 10:41.

Shots - StL 7-7-11 - 25. Chi 15-10-6 - 31. Power plays - StL 2 of 6; Chi 2 of 4. Goalies - StL, Legace 6-5-0 (30 shots-27 saves). Chi, Lalime 4-1-0 (25-23). A - 16,149 (20,500). T - 2:26. Referees - Dean Warren, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen - Darren Gibbs, Jay Sharrers.

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