Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Marcus Kruger and Duncan Keith scored less than two minutes apart in the third period, and the Chicago Blackhawks held off the Edmonton Oilers, 5-4, at United Center.
Bryan Bickell also scored in the final period for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who have won three in a row and six of their last seven games.
Corey Crawford made 19 saves for Chicago, which also received goals from Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw.
David Perron and Jordan Eberle both had a goal and an assist for Edmonton, which has lost three in a row and eight of its last nine contests. Philip Larsen had three assists for the Oilers, who got 31 saves from Devan Dubnyk.
"I think we created enough chances to win the game. I think we should have had some points tonight," Larsen said.
Kruger's goal at 11:44 gave the Blackhawks a 4-3 edge. Ben Smith delivered a pass from the left circle to the same side of the net, where Kruger tucked the disc inside the post.
Keith's goal, a wrist shot from above the left circle at 13:39, came on the power play, as Nick Schultz was in the penalty box for interference.
Eberle was credited with a shorthanded goal, Edmonton's first of the season, with 1:28 remaining. The Oilers, though, were unable to mount additional pressure on the net due to Nail Yakupov's roughing penalty that was incurred with 2:44 left.
"That's the kind of game that's kind of dangerous, when the away team hangs around," Crawford said. "That was a big win for us."
Saad's score came with 1:37 left in the opening period when he batted a loose puck out of the air in the low slot. The puck slid past Dubnyk low to the blocker side.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied the game 54 seconds into the second on a rising shot from the left circle.
Edmonton's Sam Gagner was denied on a penalty shot with 4:13 elapsed in the middle period. He was pushed down on a breakaway by Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook. On the penalty shot, Gagner skated in too close to Crawford and lost control of the puck.
The Oilers went ahead at 8:55 of the second on the power play. With Saad in the penalty box for elbowing, the Oilers worked the puck around to Larsen, whose pass found Yakupov for a successful one-timer from the right circle.
Shaw tied the game with 2:42 remaining in the second when Saad delivered the puck from the bottom of the left circle to the front for a tip-in.
Bickell then put the Blackhawks in front 5:33 into the third. Michal Rozsival's shot from the slot was stopped by Dubnyk, but the puck caromed to a vacant spot in front, and Bickell deposited the disk into the open left side of the net.
A hooking penalty on Nick Leddy opened the door for the Oilers to tie the score just 2:25 after Bickell's goal. Perron was in front to deflect the puck past Crawford following a shot from Larsen from above the left circle.
Game Notes
Rozsival headed to the locker room late in the third period after being hit in the face with a puck off the stick of Perron while on the bench ... The Oilers, who wrapped up a four-game road trip, will host Dallas Wednesday ... The Blackhawks, who went 1-for-5 on the power play, are home against Phoenix Thursday.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.