Philipp Kurashev scored 1:50 into overtime and Petr Mrazek made 32 saves as the host Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Sunday.
Mrazek outdueled Minnesota counterpart Filip Gustavsson (20 saves) to help Chicago end a 12-game winless streak against its Central Division rival.
The Blackhawks netted the game-winner after intercepting a pass. Seth Jones sent a pass to Kurashev, who streaked down the left side before beating Gustavsson with a wrist shot.
The Blackhawks fought off consistent pressure from the Wild, who outshot Chicago 19-4 in the third period.
Matt Boldy evened the score at 15:29 of the third period, burying a chance when a rebound trickled to him just inside the left circle.
Boldy missed an opportunity to tie the score moments earlier, sending a shot off the crossbar that glanced off Mrazek’s body before Nick Foligno poked it away from the net.
Chicago’s Ryan Donato hit the post shortly after the goal.
The Blackhawks opened the scoring at 16:44 of the first period, when Jason Dickinson tallied an unassisted goal. Swooping in to gather a loose puck along the right-wing boards, he came through the circle and moved into the slot before sending a wrist shot over Gustavsson’s blocker.
Chicago was awarded two power plays on separate tripping calls in the first 5:50 of the game but failed to convert.
Mrazek proved especially resourceful in the closing seconds of the second period. After losing his stick in front of the crease, he accepted Taylor Hall’s stick and used it to stop Jake Middleton’s wrist shot from the left circle.
Wild coach John Hynes shuffled lines in stretches during the game, including grouping Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Boldy.
Kaprizov saw his streak of eight consecutive multipoint road games snapped, although he did get the primary assist on Boldy’s goal. Kaprizov entered the game with back-to-back three-point efforts to begin Minnesota’s three-game road trip.
Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.
–Field Level Media
