Morning Box Score: Blackhawks Go to Another Shootout

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 2, 2012 1:45PM

Minnesota 5, Blackhawks 4 (SO)

We've written previously the Blackhawks don't seem to make anything easy. Last night was no exception. Devin Setoguchi slipped the puck past Ray Emery during the shootout round to give Minnesota its third straight win. With Emery giving Corey Crawford the night off, the Wild tested the Hawks early, tallying first period goals by Setoguchi and Danny Heatley. Patrick Sharp and Viktor Stalberg answered for Chicago, but second period goals by Clayton Stoner and Kyle Brodziak staked the Wild to a two-goal lead before Patrick Kane scored late in the second period and with 3:45 to go in regulation to force overtime. Kaner also scored in the shootout period, but Erik Christensen matched him before Stoguchi's winner.

The game was marked by chippy play on both sides and three fights, and the Blackhawks missed a great opportunity to improve their playoff position. The Blackhawks and Nashville both have 98 points but the Predators would earn the Western Conference's fifth seed based on their head-to-head record with the Hawks..