Blackhawks set NHL record with win over Sharks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Chicago Blackhawks made NHL history Friday night, becoming the first team to record at least one point in 17 straight games to start a season with a 2-1 win over San Jose at the United Center.
Rookie Brandon Saad scored a shorthanded, go-ahead goal early in the third period for the Blackhawks, who, at 14-0-3, surpassed the Anaheim Ducks' 16- game run without a regulation loss at the outset of the 2006-07 campaign.
"We're getting key contributions from a lot of different players. Having that depth makes it a lot easier," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "It's a group effort."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ray Emery made 26 saves for a Chicago club that welcomed two players back into the lineup and played with Marian Hossa, who left Tuesday's game against Vancouver after taking a blow to the head from the Canucks' Jannik Hansen, an incident that resulted in Hansen receiving a one-game suspension.
Defenseman Brent Seabrook returned from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury, while forward Daniel Carcillo suited up for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in the season opener.
Antti Niemi stopped 32 shots for the Sharks, who fell to 1-5-3 following their 7-0-0 start to the season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With the Blackhawks down 1-0, Viktor Stalberg skated down the left wing and fired a shot through Niemi's legs from below the icing line with 3:20 left in the second period.
The Sharks got an early power play after the intermission as Seabrook went off for tripping. With the man advantage winding down, Saad snapped a shot from the faceoff dot in the left circle that sailed past Niemi's glove at 2:24.
San Jose went back on the power play three minutes later, but Emery had all the answers, finishing with 13 saves in the final frame.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We knew they were going to have a push back," Sharks center Joe Thornton said. "We tip our hats to them."
Late in the first period, the Sharks were able to get a puck past the Chicago netminder. Patrick Marleau lit the lamp with 14.2 seconds remaining on a shot that crept across the goal line.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Patrick Kane picked up an assist on Stalberg's tally, giving him at least a point in 15 of 17 games this season ... The Sharks have dropped five straight in Chicago ... San Jose forward Logan Couture played in his 200th NHL game.