Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) battles Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (33) for the puck during the second period at MTS Centre.Bruce Fedyck
Brandon Saad scored in overtime as the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Patrick Kane scored the other goal for the Blackhawks (32-18-2), while Corey Crawford stopped 20 of 21 shots.
Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets (26-18-10), who have spent the last four days dealing with the controversy surrounding forward Evander Kane.
Kane was a healthy scratch in Vancouver on Tuesday night, reportedly for showing up to a team meeting in a track suit. It was also reported that teammate Dustin Byfuglien threw Kane's clothes into a shower, and that Kane didn't show up at the arena in time for the game. Earlier on Friday, the team announced that Kane would have season-ending shoulder surgery to fix an injury he had been playing with for some time.
The Jets' troubles weren't limited to the Kane saga this week. The team entered the game on a 0-4-1 skid since the All-Star break, being outscored 23-11 in that span. With Kane out and options limited at forward, coach Paul Maurice moved All-Star defenceman Dustin Byfuglien back to the wing, where he started the season.
Scheifele opened the scoring 4:17 into the first period, forcing a David Rundblad turnover on the forecheck and beating Crawford to the top corner.
Patrick Kane tied the game 2:50 into the second period when he broke in alone, went to his backhand and roofed it over a sprawling Michael Hutchinson for his 26th goal of the season. It was Chicago's first goal in 149 minutes and 25 seconds.
Daniel Carcillo returned to the Blackhawks lineup after serving a six-game suspension for a cross-check on Jets forward Mathieu Perrault on Jan. 16. It took only 67 seconds for Carcillo to drop the gloves with Winnipeg's Chris Thorburn. Jets forward Anthony Peluso attempted to fight Carcillo in the second period, but the Chicago winger didn't oblige.
Hutchinson got the start in all three previous meetings between the clubs, posting a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage.
Notes: The Blackhawks were shut out in their previous two games, the first time that has happened since a three-game drought in October 2006. Jets forward Patrice Cormier, who was recalled from St. John's on Thursday after Kane was placed on the injured reserve, didn't play.
22:48ET 06-02-15