Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski scored in
the shootout to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, on
Sunday.
Jason Demers and Brent Burns scored in regulation for the Sharks, who snapped
a six-game skid against the Blackhawks in Chicago.
Alex Stalock stopped 33-of-35 shots for San Jose.
Niklas Hjalmarsson and Michal Rozsival lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, who
have recorded at least a point in 10 straight games. Corey Crawford turned
aside 40-of-42 shots.
"We didn't really start the way we wanted to," Chicago forward Kris Versteeg
said. "We came out in the third and really played our game. I thought we
worked hard. Could've drawn maybe a couple more penalties, but that was the
way the game went and we just had to fight through it."
The Sharks drew first blood at the 10:12 mark of the first period. Couture
controlled the puck behind the net and slid a pass in front for Demers, who
scored from the right circle.
A scoreless second stanza belonged to the goaltenders. Crawford and Stalock
made 15 and 12 saves, respectively.
Hjalmarsson's shot from the slot tied the game at 1:27 of the third frame.
The Blackhawks took the lead at 4:01 when Rozsival's slapper from the right
point got past Stalock.
Burns lit the lamp at 11:10 to make it a 2-2 game. Joe Thornton gathered the
puck at the side of the net and slid a pass to Burns, who chipped the disc
past Crawford.
"In my opinion, [Chicago] and [the Anaheim Ducks] are the best two teams in
the [Western Conference], so to come in here in their building and beat them,
it's a huge feather in our cap," Thornton said.
Crawford and Stalock each made three saves in overtime.
Stalock stopped Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews in the shootout.
Game Notes
The Blackhawks fell to 15-2-6 at home this season ... Couture came into
Sunday's game with a goal in four straight games ... San Jose was without
forward Tim Kennedy (flu) ... There was just one penalty in the game.
