After spending the first 2 1/2 months of the season in Death Valley, the Blackhawks finally got back to sea level Friday night at the United Center.
Playing before a crowd of 16,932, they improved their record to .500 and extended their undefeated streak to six games with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.
The fifth victory in this streak came at the expense of the first-place team in the Southeast Division.
The Hawks (20-20-4-2) were outshot 25-22 and outplayed for much of the contest. Yet they found a way to win and improve their record to 10-2-2 in their last 14 games.
The winner was scored late in the second period when Michael Nylander and Eric Daze ganged up on Olaf Kolzig. The Washington goalie rejected a couple of point-blank shots but couldn’t gather the puck. Finally, Nylander jammed it into the net.
With Kolzig off for an extra attacker, Tony Amonte sealed the victory by scoring a breakaway goal on an empty net with 38 seconds to play.
Forechecking continually and controlling the puck, Washington dominated the opening period, which ended with the score 1-1.
Both goals were scored late in the period when the teams were skating four-on-four because of penalties. Joe Reekie gave the Capitals the lead when he thrust a low backhand rebound shot from the edge of the right circle past Jocelyn Thibault. Eight seconds later Chris Herperger won a faceoff to the right of the Washington goal, sending the puck to right wing Dean McAmmond, who beat Kolzig with a high shot.
