NHL Game Summary – Columbus at Chicago

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Martin Havlat's game-winning goal in the third period gave the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Central Division battle from the United Center.

Patrick Sharp netted his 17th goal of the season on a power play in the last minute of the second while Cristobal Huet stopped 31-of-32 shots to help Chicago match its longest winning streak of the season with its fourth straight victory.

Duncan Keith had two assists while Brent Seabrook added an empty-net goal.

"We didn't panic and stuck to our game. Huet was great for us and gave us the chance to come back," Keith said.

The Blackhawks have won five of their last six overall, four straight at home and also notched four wins in a row from October 31 to November 9. Chicago next embarks on a three-game road trip that begins Tuesday in Edmonton.

Fredrik Modin scored the lone goal for Columbus, which got 28 saves from Steve Mason in the loss, as the Blue Jackets had a modest two-game winning streak come to an end on the heels of a three-game slide.

"We controlled the play but still couldn't get the victory," Mason said. "We keep trying but can't seem to make the big play at the right time."

Columbus has now lost five straight road tests and next hosts San Jose on Wednesday before hitting the road for its next two contests.

With the game knotted at 1-1, Havlat and Keith broke into the Columbus zone, sending passes back and forth to keep the defense off-balance before Havlat finally ripped a shot past Mason from in close for a 2-1 lead at the 9:36 mark of the third.

Huet made it stand up with a series of saves, eight in all during the third, and withstood a shorthanded situation when Columbus pulled Mason with 58 seconds left. Seabrook's tally came with 22 seconds remaining and sealed the win.

The Blue Jackets struck first, just 1:35 into the game. Modin snapped a quick wrister from the slot that eluded Huet for a 1-0 lead that would stand until the final minute of the middle stanza.

Rick Nash was whistled for tripping with 1:07 left in the period, enabling Chicago to tie the game just a few ticks before the horn. Cam Barker's slapper from the high slot went wide of the net but Sharp was able to gather the puck and bank it off Mason and in from behind the net.

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