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And the contest did not disappoint.
Dennis Rasmussen scored the crucial goal in a 3-2 triumph for the Blackhawks as the 2015 Stanley Cup winners got the better of perhaps the NHL's most impressive team this season.
The Capitals got off to a brilliant start, with Marcus Johansson putting the visitors a goal up after just six minutes.
The lead lasted just over 30 seconds before Patrick Kane scored his 36th goal of the season, and Jonathan Toews made it 2-1 for the home side.
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Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the consolation for the Capitals after Rasmussen had put the Blackhawks 3-1 up, but the score line might have been different if not for Corey Crawford's 28 saves.
A hat-trick from Corey Perry helped the Anaheim Ducks score an eighth-straight win as they beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2.
The Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 to halt a three-game losing streak.
Charlie Coyle, Erik Haula and Jason Pominville scored the goals as the Panthers could only muster a solitary effort through Aaron Ekblad.
The St. Louis Blues were comfortable on their travels as they dispatched the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2, while the Tampa Bay Lightning were too good for the Boston Bruins as they prevailed 4-1.
Joe Pavelski scored his 27th goal of the season to help the San Jose Sharks to a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, as the Edmonton Oilers scored a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders.