ANALYSIS: Blackhawks Win One for Fans Over Flyers

In the final week of the season, there's not much the Blackhawks collectively have left to play for on the scoreboard or the stat sheet.
The Flyers, like Chicago, was eliminated well before Monday's matchup, and Vegas, who will be at the United Center for Wednesday's home finale, is on the cusp of joining the two in an elongated summer. But after a dismal stretch at home over the final two months of the year -- a 1-6-2 mark over the last nine at the United Center entering Monday night's contest -- the message was simple in the room.
"We've got to play for each other in here, but the biggest thing is the fans deserve a good compete, a good work ethic, a good solid effort," interim head coach Derek King said pregame. "We owe it to them."

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI vs. PHI
RECAP: Blackhawks Down Flyers at Home, 3-1
HIGHLIGHTS: Blackhawks vs. Flyers
GALLERY: Blackhawks vs. Flyers
Chicago capitalized on a Philadelphia team in the second half of a back-to-back with a pair of goals in the game's opening minutes -- first from Erik Gustafsson just 1:44 in and then from Jonathan Toews just four nd a half minutes later -- and held on for the home victory the rest of the way.
It was Chicago's first regulation win since March 23.
"We want to end the season strong here and on a good note, and I think we played a really solid game tonight," said Kevin Lakninen, who made 32 stops in the win. "That was fun... We want to give the fans something to cheer about and show what we can do."
"It was very nice," Gustafsson said. "Kinger wanted us to come out and play for the fans here. I don't think we've done a good job the whole year at home, so it was nice coming out and getting a win here."

HAVING A RECORD YEAR

The majority of the Blackhawks offense this season has come from the stick of either Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane or some combination of the two. Monday's insurance goal was Kane finding DeBrincat, from one dot to the other, like so many that have come before. It was DeBrincat's 41st tally of the season, tying a career-high, and his 77th point of the year, setting a new career mark.
"It was nice for Cat. He's worked hard all year," King said. "He deserves it and hopefully we can get him another one."
Patrick Kane notched his 66th assist of the season on the goal, tying a career-high, and also the 750th of his NHL career, just the third active player to hit the mark.