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Blackhawks vs. Senators final score 2016: Corey Crawford records 6th shutout in 3-0 victory

The Chicago Blackhawks depended on Corey Crawford, Duncan Keith and Artem Anisimov a lot to close out 2015, so it was fitting that the three players led the team to a 3-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. Keith and Anisimov scored goals in the win while Crawford delivered his latest gem. The Hawks have now won three in a row and 10 of their past 15 since opening December on a three-game losing streak.

In a game highlighted by a strong defensive effort, Crawford got his league-leading sixth shutout of the season to continue an amazing hot streak for the goaltender. He’s been lights out of late and Sunday was arguably his least difficult blank sheet yet. The 30-year-old just looked totally in control as held Ottawa scoreless.

Crawford finished the game 26-of-26 between the pipes. It was an encouraging resurgence after a brief three-game blip that saw him give up four goals to Dallas and five to Carolina. Even so, he’s had 94.0 save percentage since the beginning of December, which has been a big part of why Chicago’s rolling off victories.

Keith opened the scoring by slapping one past goaltender Craig Anderson midway through the second period. Jonathan Toews and Andrew Desjardins got assists on Keith’s seventh goal of the season. No Hawks defenseman has more goals now than Keith even though he missed all that time due to surgery.

Anisimov then followed it up with the insurance goal in the third period, his 15th of the season. While that’s one goal behind Brandon Saad in Columbus, it goes without saying that you have to be thrilled with the way he’s consistently produced since coming over. After recording just 7 goals in 52 games with the Blue Jackets last season, he’s already more than doubled that total in just 40 games with the Hawks.

The final tally came on an empty netter from Desjardins after a fantastic defensive third period that had Ottawa scrambling just to get quality chances. The Senators pulled Anderson trailing by two with about two minutes remaining, which opened up the door for Desjardins’ second point of the game.

The goal continues an impressive resurgence for Desjardins, who now has two goals and three assists over his past three games. For a guy who was getting healthy scratched regularly earlier in the season, it has feel good to be getting back onto the score sheet and earn some consistent playing time.

Chicago improves to 23-13-4 on the season with the victory. That’s good for second place in the Central Division with 50 points. St. Louis also has 50 points but the Hawks have played one fewer game. The Stars are still comfortably in first with 60 points. Ottawa falls to 18-15-6 and fifth in the Atlantic Division. The Senators have lost three straight and are now 3-6-1 in their past 10 games.

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