Toronto, Canada – DETROIT (Reuters) - Patrick Sharp's shootout goal gave the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings and undisputed first place in the NHL on Sunday.
Sharp, who also scored a regulation goal, pushed the puck past Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard in the fourth round of the shootout to earn the Blackhawks their 72nd point of the season.
"Every time I shoot it seems to have implications in the game," Sharp told reporters after his second shootout goal in seven opportunities this season.
"I definitely wanted to score. It's been a while since I got one in the shootout and hopefully I can get a few more."
Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa also had shootout goals for Chicago as did Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi for Detroit.
Hossa, a former Red Wings player who was booed each time he touched the puck, had seven shots on goal, including a breakaway during regulation and overtime.
"It seems like I couldn't get one past Howard," said Hossa. "I told him after I got frustrated (during the game) that one was going to go in for sure and I got lucky in the shootout."
Sharp got a chance for the game-winner when Blackhawks netminder Antti Niemi saved a shot by Dan Cleary to open the fourth round.
GOOD START
"This is a good start on our (eight-game) road trip," Niemi said of the Blackhawks' second game of the long stretch.
"It's great to get points in the first games so you don't get stuck with zero points."
They started the trip with a 6-5 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Patrick Eaves's wrist shot midway the third period sent the game into extra time.
"I thought we did a lot of good things out there," Eaves said. "(But) when it comes down to a shootout, you never know what is going to happen.
Chicago led 2-0 in the first on goals by Troy Brouwer and Patrick Kane before Detroit leveled in the second on Henrik Zetterberg's powerplay tally.
Sharp put Chicago back on top 3-2 at 11:10 into the second before Eaves forced the tie off an assist by Nicklas Lidstrom who scored Detroit's first goal.
Niemi made 35 saves for Chicago and Howard stopped 26 shots for Detroit.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina. Editing by Alastair Himmer)
