The lightbulbs that illuminate to indicate a goal has been scored at the United Center spent a good part of Sunday night in the dark.
The rest was courtesy of two teams that have struggled to put pucks in nets, not to mention two goalies — Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks and Scott Wedgewood for the Coyotes — who helped keep those bulbs off.
But after two scoreless periods, the lightbulb finally went on for the Blackhawks during a 3-1 victory.
With the clock ticking toward 12:30 left in the third period, Crawford made four saves in the span of about eight seconds to preserve a 0-0 tie. Tommy Wingels untied it on a pass from John Hayden 7 minutes, 36 seconds into the period to put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0.
The two shared an embrace and a smile after they finally had solved Wedgewood, who made 34 saves to Crawford’s 31.
It was Wingels’ second goal in two games and fourth of the season.
“I’m doing something right with you guys talking to me two games in a row,” he joked. “I’m just staying with it. Our line struggled a bit throughout the game — first period, second period wasn’t where we wanted to be.”
But the lead, and the tie that ensued when Anthony Duclair finally put one past Crawford less than seven minutes later for the Coyotes’ first goal in seven periods.
The deadlock lived for just 1:11, though. Artem Anisimov paddled a slick pass from Patrick Kane past Wedgewood to make it 2-1.
In the process, Kane’s 780th career point broke both a tie with Doug Wilson for fifth all-time on the franchise list and a four-game pointless streak, his longest such dry spell since 2009-10.
Point No. 781 followed in swift fashion when Kane deferred to Nick Schmaltz for the two-goal advantage against the last-place Coyotes.
But Kane was more interested in the four points the Blackhawks have earned in the standings with victories in their last two games than he was in the points he’s scored in his career.
“We could probably play a little bit better, but at the same time we found ways to win even when we probably haven’t had our best,” Kane said. “Whether that’s goaltending or timely goals by the fourth line and Wingels or just finding ways to win. It’s huge points for us right now.”
In his second game back since missing a week with a lower-body injury, Crawford once again was in All-Star form.
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That flurry of stops he made just before Wingels scored the first goal was Exhibit A. Crawford also watched with interest and admiration from afar as Wedgewood stifled many a Blackhawks attempt.
Brandon Saad, on his bobblehead night, watched the puck slide past him right in front of the goalie with just over 12 minutes left in the first period.
Two minutes later, Alex DeBrincat doubled over in disappointment in the circle after his surefire shot attempt caught Wedgewood’s left leg and dropped to the ice to keep it 0-0.
Jonathan Toews and Jordan Oesterle also teased the crowd with just under seven minutes left, but Wedgewood again left them unpleased with a big save.
On and on the close calls went before Wingels broke the curse.
“I don’t know. It’s fun when we’re winning,” Crawford said when asked whether he enjoyed the goalie duel. “He played great. He made a lot of big stops. He was quick in there. But we didn’t stop. We didn’t give up, kept making plays and found the net late.”
Which was better than never.
Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina
PAUL SKRBINA’S THREE STARS
Corey Crawford, Blackhawks: Made 31 saves in his second game since returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out for a week.
Patrick Kane, Blackhawks: Two assists broke a four-game pointless drought and pushed him to fifth all-time in franchise history.
Artem Anisimov, Blackhawks: His team-leading 13th goal proved to be the winner.
Up next: Vs. Panthers, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBCSCH.