Forsberg helps Blackhawks beat Islanders 3-1

NEW YORK (AP) – Anton Forsberg stopped 30 shots to help the Chicago Blackhawks snap a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad scored in the second period, and Brent Seabrook added an empty-netter for the Blackhawks.

John Tavares scored late in the third period and Jaroslav Halak finished with 22 saves as the Islanders lost for the fifth time in six games and 13 in their last 15 (2-9-4).

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) blocks a shot by New York Islanders left wing Ross Johnston (52) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago was eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since 2008 following its 5-1 loss to Colorado on Tuesday, and pushed the struggling Islanders to the verge of being knocked for the second straight year.

Kane opened the scoring 2:36 into the second period with his team-leading 26th of the year. With the Blackhawks on the power play after Thomas Hickey was whistled for tripping Tomas Jurco as the two battled for a puck along the boards, Kane’s shot from the right circle deflected off Adam Pelech’s stick blade and through Halak.

It took the Blackhawks 1:49 to add to their lead as Saad tapped a rebound off of his initial shot – which ricocheted off the end boards – along the goal line before the puck bounced off the back of Halak’s left skate into the net.

Forsberg made the lead hold up, even though he only faced 18 shots in the final 40 minutes. His lone mistake was Tavares’ unassisted goal with 2:42 left, but Seabrook’s empty-netter with 1:14 left ended the scoring.

Neither team scored in an opening period which was mostly played at even strength, except for an Islanders power play late. New York outshot the Blackhawks 10-9 in the period.

NOTES: The teams split the regular season series, with the Islanders winning 7-3 at Chicago on Jan. 20. … The Blackhawks went 1 for 2 on the power play. The Islanders were 0 for 2. … New York outshot Chicago 30-25. … Chicago C Jonathan Toews missed his second straight game with an upper body injury. … The Blackhawks scratched LW Anthony Duclair. … D Dennis Seidenberg and RW Chris Wagner were the Islanders’ scratches. … The announced attendance was 13,091.

UP NEXT

Blackhawks: Host San Jose on Monday night.

Islanders: Host Florida on Monday night.

___

For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

  

Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, not seen, scores a goal past New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane, not seen, scores a goal past New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) reacts as Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) reacts as Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (12) and New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (12) and New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) trips Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) trips Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Adam Pelech (50) defend against Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Adam Pelech (50) defend against Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks center Matthew Highmore (36) shoots past New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (50) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks center Matthew Highmore (36) shoots past New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (50) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) slips on the ice skating against Chicago Blackhawks center Matthew Highmore (36) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) slips on the ice skating against Chicago Blackhawks center Matthew Highmore (36) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) shoots past New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) shoots past New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) and defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) work for the puck against Chicago Blackhawks center Nick Schmaltz (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. The Blackhawks won 3-1. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) and defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) work for the puck against Chicago Blackhawks center Nick Schmaltz (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. The Blackhawks won 3-1. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) blocks a shot by New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) blocks a shot by New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) controls the puck against Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) controls the puck against Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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