Blackhawks outlast Senators

Before the Blackhawks embarked on their three-game road trip, a group of reporters surrounded Scott Darling to inquire about his magical healing powers and to ask if he could just step back into the net and not miss a beat.

Darling didn't go into how he returned from what should have been a three-week injury in just 10 days (perhaps voodoo or some mystery drug?), but the Hawks' goalie expressed plenty of confidence that he wasn't about to lay an egg when called upon.

Well, that night came Thursday in Ottawa and Darling remained his typical brilliant self, stopping 33 shots in a 2-1 Blackhawks victory. Richard Panik scored the game-winner when he beat Mike Condon to the short side with the Hawks on the power play and 3:01 remaining.

The first-place Hawks, winners of 15 of 18, now lead Minnesota by 3 points in the Central Division. The Wild were 3-1 losers at Carolina.

Duncan Keith also scored for the Hawks with 11:56 remaining. Ottawa tied it when Kyle Turris scored a power-play goal with 8:37 left.

Early in the third period Ottawa's public address announcer acknowledged Marian Hossa for playing in his 1,300th NHL game, and moments later Hossa stormed in on goalie Mike Condon and nearly scored on back-to-back shots. Hossa played his first six NHL seasons for the Senators, scoring 188 goals in 467 games.