CHICAGO _ The Blackhawks got some much-needed relief for Friday's game against the Sabres _ goaltender Corey Crawford was back from a three-game absence.
Crawford's return couldn't have come at a better time as the Hawks lost their last five games, including the three in which Crawford was out because of a lower-body injury.
Crawford's return helped the Hawks snap out of their recent malaise, although it was closer than the Hawks would have liked. They came back to beat the Sabres, 3-2. The Sabres had the fewest points in the league entering Friday. The Hawks won for the first time in six games. Crawford appeared no worse for the wear in his return, stopping 26 shots, and it was enough to let the Hawks hang around before coming back.
Tommy Wingels scored a short-handed goal for the Hawks with 3 minutes, 22 seconds remaining in regulation and Gustav Forsling added the winner with 4.6 seconds remaining in overtime.
Friday's battle between the Hawks and basement-dwelling Sabres was one between two of the worst power plays in the league. The Hawks came into the game 29th in the league at 15.5 percent, 29th in the league. The Sabres were only one of two teams worse in 30th at 11.2 percent.
The Sabres, however, got a little help from the power play in the first period. Jason Pominville redirected a pass from Jack Eichel top shelf on Crawford with 17.4 seconds remaining in the period.
This came after the Hawks generated nothing on two power plays of their own. Toward the end of the second power play, the fans in the United Center became restless as the Hawks passed the puck around the perimeter without shooting. The power play time was ticking off the clock, and the Hawks didn't shoot. Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane were still passing the puck around the perimeter. The groans grew louder. Finally, Kane did after the power play expired and the Hawks didn't get a goal.
The power play killed the momentum the Hawks were generating 5-on-5. The Hawks outshot the Sabres 13-5 for the period, but the Sabres got one of theirs to go in. Vinnie Hinostroza nearly scored on his first shift with the Hawks out of Rockford, but he couldn't control a bouncing puck near the net. The Hawks, however, would finally get a goal with a man advantage. After going 1 for their last 23, Alex DeBrincat got the Hawks back on the board with a snipe from the left circle at 8:30. It was DeBrincat's 12the goal of the season tying him with Artem Anisimov for the team lead.
But the revelry would be temporary, for only 2:30 later, the Sabres regained the lead when a Kyle Okposo shot from the slot weaved its way through traffic in front of Crawford to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead.
