NHL Capsules (Dec. 5th)

A review of this evening's NHL action:

Blackhawks 4, Canadiens 3

CHICAGO, Ill. - Brandon Saad broke a 3-3 tie with 27 seconds left in regulation to sneak the Chicago Blackhawks past the struggling Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Friday night.

"It got deflected and ended up right on my stick, so I'm thankful for that," Saad said afterwards of his shot.

Chicago (17-8-1) secured their fifth-straight victory as the Canadiens drop the fifth of their last six outings. 

The Blackhawks' 1st-ranked penalty-kill was on duty for eight minutes of the second period, eventually allowing P.K. Subban's goal on the advantage and the brief 3-2 Montreal lead.

But captain Jonathan Toews would help secure the win, adding two more points on the night, including his 11th goal this season that evened it at 3 per side.

His assist, alongside Patrick Kane, preceded Saad's game-winner.

Carey Price allowed 4-of-36 shots in net for the Canadiens (17-9-2), who travel to Dallas tomorrow.

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Anaheim 5, Minnesota 4

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Ducks center Ryan Kesler left the ice Friday night with three points, scoring two goals and assisting a third as Anaheim skated past Minnesota 5-4.

Kesler needed all of 1:31 to strike for the visitors, and Jakob Silfverberg gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead after the first period. 

Kesler added again at 2:28 of the second, flinging one past Darcy Kuemper for the three-goal advantage.

But the Wild weren't through, and their comeback bid began from an unlikely source: their 29th-ranked power-play.

Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise both found the net within 11 seconds of each other in two 5-on-4 sessions, bringing the home side within a goal.

Jonas Brodin scored his first this season and Justin Fontaine gave the Wild a 4-3 lead near the start of the third period, but Tim Jackman and Matt Beleskey would finish the frame, and the Wild.

Anaheim downed the Wild in their last contest, and the two teams will meet again on March 13th in St. Paul.

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Jets 6, Avalanche 2

WINNIPEG, Mb. - Bryan Little's hat-trick swept the Winnipeg Jets to a 6-2 decision over the Colorado Avalanche Friday night.

He scored halfway through the first period and twice within a 32 second span in the third, all assisted by Blake Wheeler.

Little would assist on Andrew Ladd's strike 45 seconds into the middle frame for the 3-1 Jets lead.

Host Winnipeg outshot Colorado 16-4 in the first period, and 26-9 through the second, finishing with 37 shots to Colorado's 22 on goal.

Michael Hutchinson saved 20 shots for Winnipeg (14-9-4) in victory.

Jerome Iginla gave the Avalanche (9-12-6) their two goals, his 5th and 6th on the season, assisted each time by Gabriel Landeskog.