Plenty of fireworks in Hawks victory
ST. LOUIS -- The Blackhawks had only one thing on their mind Saturday night at Scottrade Center and it had nothing to do with getting even with the Blues for what happened last weekend.
The Hawks came to town in search of a victory and that's what they got, holding off the Blues for a 4-3 win that put them back within 4 points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games to play.
"It's a big win and it keeps us in it," Hawks coach Denis Savard said.
There were some fireworks early in the form of two fights and late when the Blues charged back from a 4-0 third-period deficit.
Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith received a match penalty in the final seconds for a hit on Andy McDonald. A match penalty carries an automatic suspension pending a review by the NHL.
Keith will get a review today to determine his status for tonight's game against Columbus at the United Center.
It was McDonald charging at Keith, who put up his stick and popped the Blues' center in the face.
"McDonald was coming after him, actually, and Dunc lifted up his arm," Savard said. "He walked right into it. The league will look at it, but to me it's not a match penalty at all."
The Hawks had a 1-0 lead before the first of two early fights thanks to Andrew Ladd's goal 1:40 into the game.
Ladd poked home a Dave Bolland centering pass for his 14th goal of the season and fifth in 16 games with the Hawks since being acquired at the trade deadline.
Moments after Ladd's goal, Craig Adams and Cam Janssen dropped the gloves and fought. Janssen waved his arms after the bout to try to get the home crowd into it, much to the dismay of the Hawks.
Adam Burish and David Backes also fought early in a bout that featured more wrestling than swinging.
Backes was one of the Blues accused of cheap shots after the whistle by Savard following last Sunday's game at the United Center.
The Hawks took a 2-0 lead out of the first period thanks to Jonathan Toews' 22nd goal of the season, a wrist shot past goalie Manny Legace through a Dustin Byfuglien screen.
"Buff had a pretty good screen in front of the net," Toews said.
Toews said before the game that he expected more rough stuff from the Blues but that all the Hawks wanted was a good start.
"We were looking for a good first 20 (minutes)," Toews said. "We were disappointed by the way we played against Columbus (Wednesday in a 4-0 loss)."
The Hawks got a huge goal late in the second period short-handed from Keith. It was the Hawks' 15th short-handed goal of the season. They got their league-leading 16th short-handed goal early in the third period from Craig Adams to make it 4-0 before the Blues stormed back.
"Craig Adams stepped up for us early then got the game-winning goal," Savard said.
"We would have liked to play better in the third period, but we got the 2 points," Adams said. "This was a big win and, obviously, we need to win every game now."