clarinews@clarinet.com (ROBERT J. MURPHY, UPI Sports Writer) (01/18/90)
CHICAGO (UPI) -- Jacques Cloutier turned aside 25 shots Wednesday night in his first start since Dec. 22, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-1 triumph over the Minnesota North Stars. Steve Larmer, Dirk Graham and Steve Thomas each tallied once for the Blackhawks, who snapped a two-game losing skid. Rookie Jeremy Roenick, celebrating his 20th birthday, had two assists. Dave Gagner erased the shutout bid with 9:32 remaining with his 23rd goal on a deflection to pull the North Stars within 2-1. Thomas answered with his 22nd goal less than four minutes later to cap the scoring. Minnesota was outshot 27-14 the first two periods and 32-26 for the game. The North Stars are 0-7-1 in their last eight road games and 4-18-2 away from home on the year. Cloutier was sharp the entire way. He made several strong saves, including a diving block of an Aaron Broten rebound midway through the second period. Chicago had allowed 13 goals in its previous two games, both of which Alain Chevrier started in the net. Cloutier missed eight games with a pulled groin before coming off the bench to replace Chevrier in the last two. With all eyes on the pre-game warmup, there was no repeat of the Dec. 28 brawl that led to suspensions and heavy fines for each team. The three main participants in the melee, Minnesota's Shane Churla and Basil McRae and Chicago's Wayne Van Dorp, sat out the contest while still serving their suspensions. The only blemish for Chicago was the possible loss of star center Denis Savard. He was brought to a hospital for X-rays on his right ankle after crashing into the boards in the second period. The Blackhawks led 1-0 after one on Larmer's 19th goal. The right winger uncorked a high slap shot from just inside the blue line that goalie Jon Casey stabbed with his glove but then dropped into the net while pulling the glove down. Graham made it 2-0 1:42 into the second period, tipping in Keith Brown's slap shot from the right point that went through heavy traffic.