Anaheim, CA (My Sportsbook) - Bobby Ryan notched a pair of goals as Anaheim doubled up Chicago, 4-2, at Honda Center.
Todd Marchant and Saku Koivu also tallied and Corey Perry added a pair of assists for the Ducks, who have won two in a row after losing five straight.
Jonas Hiller was strong in net, making 39 saves.
"We can't let up for one minute," said Marchant of his club, which is still mired in the lower regions of the conference. "We have to keep pushing. You never know what game or point could cost you in the end."
Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa provided offense for the Blackhawks, who have lost three in a row and four of five. Chicago remained two points behind idle San Jose for the top spot in the Western Conference with the regulation setback.
Making his first start in over two years, Corey Crawford allowed three goals on 35 shots in defeat.
Marchant's short-handed score at 6:27 of the second period put the Ducks ahead by a 2-1 count. Crawford's misplay of a dump-in came to Kyle Chipchura at center ice, and he found the veteran alone on the left wing for his ninth goal of the year.
Duncan Keith's screened point shot caromed off Hossa's leg and tied the score at 5:12 of the third period, but Koivu gave the Ducks their third one-goal advantage of the contest off a goal-mouth scramble with 5:36 left in regulation.
Ryan hit the empty net with 53 seconds to play to seal the victory.
"We knew with them coming in here and having lost their last two hockey games that they were going to be a little bit of a grouchy hockey club," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle of Chicago. "It was two teams competing and when the physical element of the game gets up there, it's up to people to respond."
Ryan opened the scoring for Anaheim at 4:08 of the first, then Seabrook struck for the Hawks at 11:16.
"It was a good game. I would have liked it to go the other way," Keith admitted. "I think these games we've been losing, these tight games, we've got to learn from these last three games, stay positive and try to get through this."
Game Notes
Anaheim won three of the four meetings this season...The Ducks have taken six of their last seven home games against the Blackhawks...Ryan posted his sixth multi-goal game of the season...Crawford's last NHL start was a 3-0 loss to Carolina on March 12, 2008 while his last victory was on March 5, 2008 against Anaheim.