THE ASSOCIATED PRESS@ LOS ANGELES -- Patrick Kane learned of his grandfathers death shortly before game time, and he handled the pain in the only way he could imagine. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . By playing his heavy heart out. Kane had two goals and an assist, Nick Leddy had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Blackhawks snapped their recent slump with a 5-3 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. After scoring goals early and late in his first three-point game since Dec. 28, Kane choked up in the dressing room while thinking about his grandfather, Donald, who lived next door during his childhood in Buffalo. "Just a tough day overall," Kane said. "He was one of my great friends growing up. Just a really sad day. It was important to get the win, but any time you get someone taken away from you thats so close to you, means so much, its tough to hear that right before the game, for sure." Kane pointed skyward after his first goal 1:02 into the game, coming out of the corner and beating U.S. Olympic teammate Jonathan Quick during a power play. "You think about it a couple of times on the bench, but I was just trying to focus on the game tonight," Kane said. "Just play well for him, I guess." Chicago coach Joel Quenneville didnt learn about Kanes extra burden until early in the game. Kanes teammates praised him for his poise while mourning his loss. "Hes a proud guy, and I think his grandfather meant a lot to him," Quenneville said. "It was probably an emotional night for him, but he played an unbelievable game." Kane had plenty of help. Marcus Kruger scored the tiebreaking goal on a double deflection in the second period for the defending Stanley Cup champions. Bryan Bickell also scored and Corey Crawford made 31 saves as Chicago swept the three-game season series between last seasons Western Conference finalists. Kane warmed up for Sochi with his first multigoal game since Dec. 14, while Canadian Olympic counterparts Patrick Sharp and captain Jonathan Toews picked up two assists apiece for the Blackhawks, who had lost five of six. Leddy contributed his first goal and first multipoint game since Dec. 23. With Chicagos victory and Anaheims loss to Columbus, the Blackhawks pulled within three points of the Ducks for the overall NHL lead. Anze Kopitar had a goal and two assists in Los Angeles highest-scoring performance since Jan. 21. Drew Doughty and Tyler Toffoli also scored, and Jonathan Quick stopped 25 shots in the Kings ninth loss in 10 games. "Tonight, energy-wise I think, was our best night in a while," Kings captain Dustin Brown said. "Weve got to just keep plugging along. I know its a broken record, but were not going to get out of it by doing anything different. ... Theres definitely frustration. If youre not frustrated in this room, theres something wrong with you." Although the Kings scored more than one goal for the first time in seven games, it wasnt enough to beat the NHLs highest-scoring team, which had lost two of three on its six-game road trip heading into the Olympic break. Los Angeles had scored just three total goals in the last six games heading into this meeting of the NHLs last two champs. "I think that we have a couple of guys that are frustrated with their own games," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "Theyre having a hard time right now, whether its the schedule or just where theyre at with their own games. Thats something they need to deal with themselves, for sure." The Kings got off to a horrific start yet again: Kane scored after Doughty took a charging penalty 24 seconds after the opening faceoff. Bickell then scored on a slick pass from Kane, but Doughty kept it close with his eighth goal on a one-timer moments later. His goal was the first by any Kings player except Kopitar in nearly two weeks. Kopitar evened it with a flip of a bouncing puck on a 3-on-1 rush, for his 17th goal, but Chicago went back ahead when Leddys shot from the point deflected off Krugers blade and smacked Kings defenceman Matt Greenes stick, popping over Quicks shoulder. After Leddy scored with 12:59 to play, Sharp set up Kanes second goal moments later. NOTES: Quick has started 15 of the Kings 16 games since he returned from a seven-week injury absence. ... Toffolis late goal was his 10th of the season -- and first since Dec. 19. ... The Kings scratched F Jordan Nolan, and Matt Frattin returned to the lineup after sitting out the past four games. Cheap Jerseys Authentic . Jordan signed his contract Wednesday, making him the third inside linebacker with special teams experience that the Redskins have added in free agency. Cheap Jerseys China . Ortega played 42 games for Double-A Tulsa in the Texas League last season before sustaining a hairline fracture on his shin.ATLANTA -- Manager Fredi Gonzalez saw no reason he shouldnt let Evan Gattis swing with a 3-0 count in the first inning. One big swing from Gattis showed why he deserved that vote of confidence. Gattis hit a three-run homer and Chris Johnson followed with another long ball in the first, and the Braves edged the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Friday night for their first interleague win. The Braves were 0-6 against American League teams before taking advantage of four runs in the first on the two homers off C.J. Wilson (7-6), including a three-run shot by Gattis. There were two outs and two runners on when Gattis faced the 3-0 count against Wilson. Gonzalez relayed the green light. "The way hes swinging the bat, why not?" Gonzalez asked. Asked what pitch he was looking for, Gattis said "A pitch to handle." He said it didnt have to be in a certain location and added Wilson delivered "a decent pitch" on the inside to middle of the plate. Wilson didnt like the pitch. "That pitch just didnt move at all," Wilson said. "It was right down the middle. Obviously the guys got great power and hes on a tear right now." Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Wilson, who had a hit batter and a walk before the homer, was hurt by his poor control in the inning. "He almost worked his way out of it but C.J. just was behind in too many counts and it eventually caught up with him," Scioscia said. Wilson was in control after the ugly first inning. He gave up only three hits in five scoreless innings after the first. The homer over the left-field wall was the 14th for Gattis, leaving him tied for third place in the National League. He had two hits, giving him a 13-game hitting streak, Atlantas longest this season. Aaron Harang (5-5) allowed one run in six innings to end a streak of five consecutive starts without a win. Braves right fielder Jason Heyward left the game with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch from Wilson in the first inning. The Braves said X-rays were negative and Heyward is day to day. After being hit on the top of his hand leading off the first inning, Heyward remained in the game and scored on the homer by Gattis. He remained in the game on defence in the second before leaving in the bottom of the inning as Jordan Schafer was used as a pinch-hitter. "It gradually felt worse," Heyward saiid, adding hes relieved he didnt have a broken bone.Jerseys Cheap. The Angels trailed 4-1 before Albert Pujols had a two-run single off Shae Simmons in the eighth. Craig Kimbrel struck out Raul Ibanez to cap a perfect ninth inning for his 19th save. Harang, 36, earned his first win in eight career starts against the Angels. He was 0-4 with a 10.48 ERA in four 2013 starts for Seattle against the Angels. Harang gave up four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. The homer by Gattis drove in Heyward and Freddie Freeman, who walked. Johnson followed with his homer over the centre field wall for a 4-0 lead. Wilson had allowed only one homer in his last five starts before allowing the back-to-back shots. The Angels scored in the third when Hank Conger hit a leadoff double before moving to third and then scoring on two wild pitches from Harang. Braves centre fielder B.J. Upton dropped Kyle Calhouns liner for an error, helped Los Angeles in the eighth. Upton caught up to the ball but couldnt hold on when trying for a basket catch at his waist. Mike Trouts bloop double left runners on second and third with one out. Pujols, who has hit .347 in his career against the Braves, then punched a two-run single past second baseman Tommy La Stella. Simmons struck out Howie Kendrick and ended the inning on Erick Aybars grounder to first base. Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons left his feet to make a diving catch of a sharply hit grounder by Josh Hamilton in the sixth. Simmons bounced up to throw out Hamilton in a close play at first base. "That is probably one of the best plays Ive seen in a long time," Harang said. NOTES: Scioscia said LHP Tyler Skaggs (right hamstring) could return from the 15-day DL next weekend. ... Andrelton Simmons, who is from Curacao, sprinted through the clubhouse screaming "Goooaaaalll!" before the game when The Netherlands scored the go-ahead goal in their 5-1 World Cup victory over Spain. ... C Gerald Laird said his right jaw was sore after being hit by Corey Dickersons bat in Thursdays game at Colorado, but he has passed a concussion test and was available off the bench. ... OF Justin Upton (sore left hamstring) was 0-for-4 after missing Thursdays game. ... Atlantas Gavin Floyd will face Garrett Richards in a matchup of right-handers on Saturday night. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
