Colliton gets first win, Blackhawks top Blues to end losing streak

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks ended an eight-game losing streak with their first win under coach Jeremy Colliton, 1-0 against the St. Louis Blues at United Center on Wednesday.

Corey Crawford made 28 saves for his first shutout since he had two straight Nov. 1 and 4, 2017. It was Chicago's first of the season.
Brent Seabrook scored for the Blackhawks (7-8-3), who are 1-2-1 under Colliton.
WATCH: [All Blues vs. Blackhawks highlights]
"Happy for the guys to get rewarded," Colliton said. "It's not a lot of fun to see the [losses] add up. So very happy for the group, they battled really hard.
"I thought especially in the third when the game was on the line, we found a way to get some pucks out and win some 50-50s and got a couple saves, and hopefully that relieves a little bit of the tension in the team and they can play a little more free. Because we've been talking about it, but it's easier said than done."

Jake Allen made 18 saves for the Blues (6-7-3), who have lost two in a row and are 2-3-0 in their past five games. They defeated the Blackhawks 7-3 in St. Louis on Oct. 27 to start Chicago's 0-6-2 slide.
"I thought Jake, he played a great game for us," Blues forward Tyler Bozak said. "Gave us a really good chance to win. It's funny, we've been scoring tons of goals and giving up a lot, and then we can't score and we only gave up one. So it's a tough loss. I thought we did a lot of good things. We have to get back to work tomorrow."
Seabrook scored on the power play to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 4:05 of the second period. Allen made the save on Seabrook's shot from the bottom of the left face-off circle, but the rebound went in off Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's right skate in the crease.
"It's a good feeling," Seabrook said. "It was nice to hear some music when they came in here after the game tonight. I think the boys are all fired up. The way we played, I think, going into the second period, being able to score a goal, hold on to the lead ... I think the way everybody played, everybody stuck with it. Everybody stuck with the game plan. Everybody worked hard."

Colliton took over as Chicago coach after Joel Quenneville was fired Nov. 6.
The Blackhawks were 0-for-6 on the power play their first three games under Colliton before going 1-for-2 against the Blues.
"They always have a good power play," Allen said. "They're very calm with each other. They know each other very well, obviously, playing together for a long time. Another power-play goal. I thought after that, we really limited them to not very much on the power play. I thought we did a good job on the kill."

They said it

"They play a good defensive game too. Their D are right up on you, take away your time and space. Thought their goalie (Corey Crawford) did pretty well. They do a good job of breaking the puck out and getting it out clean. They just take away your time and space, and don't give you a lot of room to work." -- Blues forward Tyler Bozak
"It was good. We've been waiting awhile, kind of forgot what it was like to win there for a bit. I thought our guys played really well tonight, everyone played together. We didn't make that many mistakes." -- Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford

Need to know

It was Chicago's first 1-0 victory since Jan. 20, 2017 at the Boston Bruins. … The Blues are 1-1-2 against the Blackhawks this season. It is the first time they played four of their first 16 games against Chicago since 1970-1971. … Defenseman Duncan Keith played his 1,014th NHL game, passing Eric Nesterenko for fourth in Blackhawks history. … Chicago defenseman Gustav Forsling had two hits and two blocked shots in 15:49 of ice time in his season debut. He played five games with Rockford of the American Hockey League after returning from a wrist injury.

What's next

Blues: At Vegas Golden Knights on Friday (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, FS-MW, NHL.TV)
Blackhawks: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH, FS-W, NHL.TV)