Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Niklas Hjalmarsson’s goal capped a first-
period scoring barrage to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 victory over
the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
Jonathan Toews finished with a goal and an assist, Trevor van Riemsdyk scored
his first career goal and Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell also lit the lamp
for the Blackhawks, who snapped a three-game home skid.
Corey Crawford turned aside 32 shots in the win.
Joe Pavelski supplied both of San Jose’s goals, Joe Thornton tallied two
assists and Antti Niemi allowed four goals on 36 shots in defeat.
Brandon Saad’s wrister off a 2-on-1 was stopped by Niemi, who also turned
aside the ensuing rebound attempt with his glove nearly eight minutes into the
game.
The Blackhawks got on the board with eight minutes remaining in the first
after van Riemsdyk slapped a shot past Niemi.
Chicago added to its lead with two goals in a span of 24 seconds.
Seabrook scored on a slapshot from the right point and Hjalmarsson took a pass
from Marian Hossa along the boards, skated into the slot and beat Niemi with a
wrister to make it a 3-0 game with 5:26 remaining in the opening stanza.
Less than a minute later, Pavelski redirected Justin Braun’s shot past a
screened Crawford to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Andrew Shaw went off for a double minor after clipping Thornton up high with
his stick. The Sharks took advantage of the extended power play as Pavelski
netted his second of the night on a one-timer at the right side of the net
4:51 into the middle frame.
Bickell’s turnaround wrister added insurance with 4:42 left and Toews found
the back of an empty net with under two minutes to play to account for the
final score.
Game Notes
Chicago held a 20-9 shot margin after the first period … The last time
three Blackhawks defensemen scored in one period was on Nov. 27, 1992 when
Igor Kravchuk, Frantisek Kcera and Steve Smith lit the lamp in an 8-1 win over
Edmonton … San Jose went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Chicago was
unsuccessful in two chances … The Blackhawks have earned points in seven
consecutive games against the Sharks dating back to the 2012-13 season.
