CHICAGO (AP) - The Blackhawks got a lift Friday night from a pair of first-year players - only one of whom is technically young enough to be considered a rookie.
David Kampf scored his first NHL goal and added an assist on his 23rd birthday, Jeff Glass blocked 31 shots and Chicago held off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1.
Jan Rutta also scored for the Blackhawks, who ended the Jets’ three-game winning streak and handed Winnipeg its first regulation loss in seven games (6-0-1).
“It’s pretty special,” Kampf said through a translator. “It’s the best day in my life to score the first NHL goal on my birthday.”
Glass, a 32-year-old who made his NHL debut on Dec. 29, lost a bid for his first shutout when Patrik Laine scored with 3:41 left in the third period. Winnipeg, the high-scoring Central Division leaders, came on with a late flurry, but Glass was sharp in his fifth NHL game to improve to 3-1-1.
“We checked hard all game,” Glass said. “Made my life easy.”
That was mostly the case until the Jets nearly tied it in the final minutes, when they started buzzing in the Chicago zone.
“They pressed,” Glass said. “I still think we did a great job hanging on.”
Chicago’s No. 1 goalie, Corey Crawford, missed his ninth game with an upper-body injury. No timetable is set for his return.
Anthony Duclair, acquired from Arizona on Wednesday as part of a four-player trade, had an assist in his Blackhawks debut as he skated on a line with Kampf and Alex DeBrincat. The trio was on the ice for both Chicago goals.
GM Stan Bowman said he acquired the speedy 22-year-old Duclair to add more quickness.
“That line played well,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “They immediately were noticed right off the bat. Whether it was quickness off the rush with the puck, they did some good things.”
Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots.
“It wasn’t an offensive game,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “It wasn’t for both teams. It was an even grinder.
“We hit a couple of posts and didn’t finish our chances. They made the most of the few chances they had and that was it.”
One of the best chances during a scoreless first period was a near own-goal by Chicago.
Duclair lost control of the puck in the Blackhawks zone after Dustin Byfuglien slashed him with about a minute left in the period. With a delayed penalty pending, Glass headed to the bench for an extra attacker as the puck slid toward Chicago’s empty net. Defenseman Gustav Forsling sprinted back and the swept the puck wide just before it crossed the goal line.
Kampf, playing his ninth game, opened the scoring at 4:51 of the second when Connor Murphy’s screened shot from the left point deflected in off him.
Glass made a point-blank stick save on Mathieu Perreault during a Winnipeg power-play with just over eight minutes left in the second. He stopped Kyle Connor on a breakaway with 4:42 remaining.
Rutta made it 2-0 just 49 seconds later when his shot from the lower edge of the right circle bounded in off Hellebuyck’s pads on the short side. Duclair assisted on the goal and screened Rutta’s shot.
Winnipeg’s Bryan Little missed on an attempt from the edge of the crease with 5:30 to go. Seconds later, Laine fired a shot off the left post.
Laine cut it to 2-1 with a rising shot from the right circle that sailed over Glass’ right shoulder.
“He’s got one of the best releases in the league and he proved it on that shot,” Glass said.
Glass made a sliding pad save on Laine with 1:15 left and Blake Wheeler hit the post with 23 seconds left.
NOTES: Chicago C Artem Anisimov missed his eighth game with an upper-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville hopes he’ll be able to return on Jan. 20 when the Blackhawks return from their bye week and host the New York Islanders. … Duclair saw power-play duty on a line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. … The Jets recalled G Michael Hutchinson from Manitoba of the AHL to backup Hellebuyck as G Steve Mason sat out with an undisclosed illness. “We got back to hotel and wasn’t feeling well at all,” Maurice said…. Winnipeg C Adam Lowry (upper-body) missed his third game and was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 5. He’s expected to be out until Jan. 20 when the Jets return from their bye week. … Jets LW Brandon Tanev missed his sixth with a lower-body injury.
UP NEXT
Jets: At Minnesota on Saturday in their final game before their bye week.
Blackhawks: Host Detroit on Sunday in an 11:30 a.m. CST start in their final game before their bye week.
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