CHICAGO, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Steve Rucchin's shorthanded goal with less than seven minutes remaining in the third period snapped a tie Friday night and lifted the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to a 4-3 triumph over Chicago in Theo Fleury's first game with the Blackhawks.
After signing as a free agent is August, Fleury spent the first two months of his Blackhawks career in a rehabiliation program -- his second stint since Feb. 28, 2001 -- before being cleared to play by the NHL on Thursday.
A proven scorer despite his small stature, Fleury could not have scripted a better debut, scoring at 10:15 of the first period to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.
But with the score knotted at 3-3 and the Blackhawks on a power play in the third, Rucchin redirected defenseman Keith Carney's slap shot from the left point past goaltender Jocelyn Thibault for his eighth goal of the season, giving Anaheim its second victory over Chicago in six days.
Andy McDonald and Jason Krog also scored for Anaheim, which improved to 5-2-1-3 in its last 10 road games.
Mark Bell and Alexei Zhamnov added goals for the Blackhawks, who have lost seven of their last nine.
