NHL: Chicago 5, St. Louis 2

CHICAGO, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Nikolai Khabibulin made 29 saves and Martin LaPointe had a goal and an assist Friday night as the Chicago Blackhawks beat St. Louis, 5-2.

The Blackhawks scored the first three goals of the game, and came up with two empty-net goals during the final minute to win their second straight game under new coach Denis Savard. He replaced the fired Trent Yawney Monday.

Dennis Wideman and Bill Guerin scored the Blues' goals. St. Louis goalie Curtis Sanford allowed one goal on three shots before leaving the game in the first period with a leg injury. Manny Legace came into the game and posted 25 saves.

Chicago opened the scoring at 6:15 of the first period when Sanford fell down and stayed down after Patrick Sharp's shot wide of the net -- and Jeff Hamilton scored as Sanford lay on the ice in pain.

Eighteen seconds later, with Legace in for Sanford, Tuomo Ruutu fired the puck past Legace's right shoulder to put the Blackhawks up, 2-0.

Chicago made it 3-0 in the second period when Tony Salmelainen picked up a deflected shot by Duncan Keith and put it in the net.