Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) – Jonathan Toews recorded a hat trick and Marty Turco needed to make just 18 saves to post his first shutout of the season, as the Chicago Blackhawks blanked the Edmonton Oilers, 5-0, at Rexall Place.
Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell also scored for the Blackhawks, who have won five consecutive games in Edmonton.
Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin allowed four goals on 31 shots before being lifted after the second period. Devan Dubnyk made 15 saves the rest of the way.
Edmonton was seeking a third victory this season over Chicago. Those victories at United Center over the defending champions account for half of the Oilers’ win total this year.
Chicago outshot the Oilers 20-4 in the first period, with Toews giving the visitors a 2-0 cushion.
The Blackhawks captain and 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner opened the scoring with 5:36 remaining. He then caught a break and deflected a pass off the skate of Edmonton defenseman Tom Gilbert for a power-play goal with 46 seconds left.
Toews completed the hat trick 1:12 into the middle stanza, firing a wrister past Khabibulin. Sharp scored a short-handed goal to make it 4-0 with 63 seconds to play in the second period.
Bickell beat Dubnyk 1:58 into the third period to finish the scoring.
Toews notched his third career hat trick and the second in the regular season…Turco has 41 career shutouts…The Blackhawks began a six-game road trip…Khabibulin has lost his last four starts and given up 22 goals in that span.