New-Look Blackhawks Beat Capitals, 3-2

CHICAGO (AP) — Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dennis Rasmussen scored, and the new-look Chicago Blackhawks beat the NHL-leading Washington Capitals 3-2 on Sunday.

Corey Crawford made 28 saves as the Blackhawks won for only the third time in their last eight games. Andrew Ladd got an assist in his return to Chicago after he was reacquired in a trade with Winnipeg on Thursday night.

Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for Washington, which had won five of six. Braden Holtby made 20 saves in only his seventh loss in 51 games this season.

With the Capitals enjoying a 6-on-3 power play, Kuznetsov stuffed home his 19th goal from a tough angle with 3:21 left, trimming Chicago's lead to one. But the Blackhawks killed off the rest of defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and held on for the victory.

The score was tied at 1 in the second period before Teuvo Teravainen set up Toews' 22nd goal with a slick pass over the middle to the captain. Ladd helped get the puck to an open Teravainen in a scramble in front.

Ladd previously played for Chicago for two-plus seasons, helping the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010. He got a loud ovation when he was introduced with the starting lineup before the game.

Rasmussen made it 3-1 at 12:47 of the third. Richard Panik kicked the puck from behind the net right to a streaking Rasmussen, who beat Holtby for his fourth of the season.

The nationally televised second meeting of the season between two of the NHL's top teams — Washington beat Chicago 4-1 way back on Oct. 15 — was a highly entertaining affair played at a breakneck pace for much of the day in front of a season-high crowd of 22,218 at the United Center.

The Capitals used the league's top power play to jump in front in the first. With Andrew Desjardins in the penalty box for high-sticking, Justin Williams' big slap shot was stopped by Crawford, but Johansson poked the fluttering rebound into the net at 6:13.

The Blackhawks responded 31 seconds later, with Kane making the most of a terrific pass from defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk. Artem Anisimov helped force a Capitals turnover, and van Riemsdyk found Kane all alone in front for the winger's 36th goal of the season.

Chicago had a chance to jump in front with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the period, but Holtby made a nice glove save on Teravainen's backhander. Crawford returned the favor in the second, turning away Alex Ovechkin on an open chance in front.

NOTES: Capitals F Jay Beagle (hand) was activated from long-term injured reserve and played almost 10 minutes in his first game since Dec. 30. D John Carlson was placed on LTIR with a lower-body injury that is expected to keep him out three to four weeks. ... Capitals F Brooks Laich cleared waivers and played 9:44. ... The Blackhawks scratched F Dale Weise and D Christian Ehrhoff. Weise and Ehrhoff were acquired in separate trades on Friday, and Weise is working through a visa issue. ... D Mike Weber, C Michael Latta and RW Stanislav Galiev were inactive for the Capitals. Weber hasn't played since he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo on Tuesday. ... The Blackhawks announced a one-year deal with G Mac Carruth that runs through the end of this season.

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