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Chicago Blackhawks bounce back with 3-0 win

There's obviously no such thing as a must-win game before a month has gone by in the NHL, NBA or major-league baseball.

But when a team has lost five of six and their coach just unleashed a tongue-lashing not suited for anyone under the age of 13, it sure is nice to play the way the Chicago Blackhawks did Wednesday night at the United Center.

Corey Crawford kept Philadelphia at bay with several spectacular saves in the first 23 minutes, Artem Anisimiov and Jonathan Toews scored second-period goals 20 seconds apart, and the Hawks went on to a much-needed 3-0 victory.

"We needed a big effort," said Crawford, who made 35 saves. "We've been playing pretty good hockey. Just haven't gotten some wins. That was a good one for us to win at home and get back on track."

Anisimov's goal came at 8:58 of the second period - just six seconds after Brandon Manning was sent off for holding - to end a dreadful 0-for-18 power-play drought.

"It's like something dropped from our shoulders when we scored that goal," Anisimov said.

It was so simple, it was almost scary.

Anisimov won the faceoff. Patrick Kane dished to Cody Franson. Franson fired. Brian Elliott gave up a rebound.

And wham! Anisimov was there to clean up the mess.

"We just need to keep building from that," Anisimov said. "Just play simple like that play. Pass over, shoot. Rebound. Easy."

Then - before Anisimov's goal could even be announced - Toews pounced on a puck at the Flyers' blue line and exploded down ice on a breakaway. He deftly slid a backhander between Elliott's legs and the Hawks were suddenly up 2-0.

"I had one a few games ago and just tried to play it safe," said Toews, who snapped a seven-game goal drought. "This time I figured just try to come in with speed and make a move and try to get him to bite."

Alex DeBrincat clinched it with an empty-netter with 1:49 remaining.

Franson, playing in just his fourth game, impressed with an assist, 4 shots on goal and a sliding kick save that thwarted a 2-on-1 rush in the second period.

"We like what we're seeing," coach Joel Quenneville said.

While the goals were certainly nice, the man between the pipes was clearly the hero. Picking a highlight-reel save is no easy task, but Crawford's lunging effort on a Valtteri Filppula wraparound attempt in the first period certainly was right up there.

"There were some shifts out there where it looked was like, I don't know how it stayed out," Quenneville said. "Give Crow credit."

So all in all, it was a nice victory, but it won't mean much if the Hawks (6-5-2) can't build on it in a big divisional matchup Saturday at Minnesota and at home against Montreal the next night.

"Yeah, we'll take the win," Quenneville said. "We'll take some areas where we were better. Power play, penalty killing was good. But we can still be better in our team game."

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