RECAP: Blackhawks 5, Maple Leafs 4

RAPID REACTION: The Blackhawks led from beginning to end and survived a frantic finish in Toronto, as Duncan Keith, Brendan Perlini, Dominik Kahun, Brandon Saad and Alex DeBrincat scored in a 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs. The team's fourth win in a row moves the Blackhawks within four points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
A hot start for Chicago was crucial in silencing the Scotiabank Arena crowd and staking the Blackhawks to an early 4-0 lead.
Duncan Keith's opening tally put Chicago on the board, as the defenseman's booming shot squeaked past Frederik Andersen, with Brandon Saad and Brendan Perlini collecting assists on the goal. It wouldn't be their last involvement in one of the Blackhawks most impressive offensive performances of the season.

Perlini would be the first to strike using a nifty move to lose a defender and beat Andersen glove side. Minutes later, Patrick Kane fed Dominik Kahun on an odd-man rush to give the Blackhawks a 3-0 lead against the Eastern Conference powerhouse.
Before the first period ended, Saad would get his goal after a beautiful set up from Dylan Sikura put #20 alone in front of goal. Sadd knocked home a backhander on the doorstep and knocked Andersen out of the game, with Garret Sparks coming in to relieve the Toronto netminder.
Alex DeBrincat padded the lead with a highlight reel goal in the second, burying a quick shot off a feed from Perlini and putting Chicago up 5-0. Andreas Johnsson pulled one back for the Maple Leafs later in the period.

Collin Delia came in to relieve Corey Crawford (illness) and held on as the Maple Leafs didn't go down without a fight in the third period. But despite three Maple Leaf goals and a frantic final frame, Chicago managed to secure the victory and extend their win streak to four.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:Brendan Perlini continued his incredible run with the Blackhawks, following up his hat trick in a 7-1 win over Arizona on Monday with three points against the Maple Leafs (1 G, 2 A) on Wednesday night. He has scored five goals during Chicago's four-game winning streak.

STAT OF THE NIGHT:During this four-game run, the Blackhawks have outscored opponents 19-8 and are averaging 4.75 goals a per game.
TALKING POINTS:
"We can be really happy with the first and second and not happy with the third. Played really well in the first period and most of the second. We felt we just had to keep them off the board as long as we could. As soon as they get one and certainly two, they get a little hope and the crowd gets going and they get some energy. That's what happened...We got two points thought. We'll deal with the stuff we didn't like on Friday and we'll still enjoy the win." - Jeremy Colliton on holding on to beat the Maple Leafs in Toronto
WHAT'S NEXT:The Blackhawks take on the Montreal Canadiens this Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on WGN or heard on WGN 720.