Online wire reports
Jan. 15, 2012
CHICAGO — Jonathan Toews and Viktor Stalberg each had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat San Jose 4-3 on Sunday night and ended the Sharks eight-game point streak.
Dave Bolland and rookie Andrew Shaw also scored for Chicago, which has won three of four and is 3-0-2 in its last five. Shaws goal was his fourth in seven games since being recalled from the AHL.
Joe Pavelski, Jamie McGinn and rookie Tommy Wingels scored for the Sharks, who lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 26. San Jose had won six of seven, and was 6-0-2 in its previous eight. Wingels goal was his first in the NHL.
Chicagos Corey Crawford made 21 saves.
Antti Niemi stopped 36 shots for the Sharks. Niemi, who backstopped the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup title in 2010, has started all seven games between these teams since joining the Sharks last season.
Niemi made a spectacular glove save on Marian Hossa midway through the first, but he couldnt hold off the Blackhawks late in the period when Bolland and Stalberg scored 1:38 apart.
Bolland opened the scoring with 1:59 left in the first. After taking Jimmy Hayes feed from behind the net, he beat Niemi with a shot from a sharp angle before Niemi could slide across the crease.
Stalberg made it 2-0 with 21 seconds remaining, skating down the slot and redirecting in Toews pinpoint feed from the right corner.
The Sharks replied with two quick goals early in the second to tie it when Pavelski and McGinn connected 26 seconds apart.
From traffic in front of the crease, Pavelski tipped in Marc-Edouard Vlasics drive from the point at 1:42. McGinn then skated to the net from the right corner and stuffed in a shot from the side of the net at 2:08.
Toews put Chicago back ahead 3-2 at 7:06 with his team-leading 24th goal after Niemi tried to play the puck behind the net. Stalberg beat Niemi to the puck and fed it to Patrick Kane at the left boards. Kane slipped a pass in front to Toews, who swept in a shot while Niemi was trying to get back into position.
Shaw made it 4-2 at 2:37 of the third when he followed through on his own rebound. Niemi stopped Marcus Krugers shot from the slot and got a piece of Shaws rebound, but Shaw buried the loose puck as it slid toward the goal line.
Wingels swept in a rebound of Dan Boyles shot with 4:57 left to cut San Joses deficit to 4-3.
Crawford and the Blackhawks held on through a Sharks power play in the final 1:07, while Niemi was on the bench for an extra attacker.
Notes
The Sharks were 10-1-4 since losing 1-0 at St. Louis on Dec. 10. … San Jose rookie C Andrew Desjardins sat out because of an undisclosed injury. He hasnt played since being hit in the head by Columbus Dane Byers early in the second period of the Sharks 2-1 win on Saturday. … Chicago LW Patrick Sharp (fractured left wrist) missed his fourth game. … Blackhawks LW Daniel Carcillo is scheduled to have reconstructive knee surgery on Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season.