CHICAGO _ Playing spoiler is light-years away from competing for a playoff spot but trying to stop the Blues from winning a division is a great way to keep things interesting.
On Wednesday night, the Blackhawks found themselves on the ice for the first time since being eliminated from postseason contention and prevented the Blues from moving into a three-way tie with the Predators and Jets for first place in the Central Division with a 4-3 shootout victory at the United Center.
Jonathan Toews scored the lone Hawks' goal during the shootout and Cam Ward stopped all three Blues' chances to seal the win.
The Blues' Tyler Bozak scored with 38.9 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 3 and send the game into the extra session.
Patrick Kane took over the team lead from Alex DeBrincat with his 42nd goal of the season and added an assist to set a new career high with 107 points, topping by one the total he had during his 2015-16 MVP season.
Toews scored his 35th goal to also set a new career high, topping his previous best set during the 2008-09 season.
Corey Crawford got a rest after starting 13 straight games but Ward was sharp in his first action since March 3, stopping 37 shots for the victory.
Kane's goal came on a breakaway and was in and out of the net so fast barely anybody in the United Center realized it had gone in. The goal light didn't go off and Chelsea Dagger didn't start playing initially. It wasn't until nearly a minute later that a video review revealed Kane's backhanded shot had beat Blues goalie Jake Allen to make it 3-1.
After Toews' first-period goal made it 1-0, the Blues' Vladimir Tarasenko tied it 34 seconds into the second with his 32nd of the season. But the Hawks went back in front before the period was over, taking a 2-1 lead when Artem Anisimov tipped in a Dominik Kahun shot for his 15th goal.
The Hawks' final home game of the season is Friday night when they host the Stars before heading to Nashville on Saturday to close out the season where they may be playing spoiler once again.
