Patrick Sharp gives four assists for Chicago Blackhawks to overtake San Jose Sharks –NHL Update
San Jose Sharks seemed to shutdown Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth time straight this season, but couldn’t control the onslaught of Blackhawks offense that fired five goals straight in the second to take down Sharks by 6-3 on Monday night at the United
Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Antti Niemi was honoured by the Blackhawks crowd of over 22,000 in a sarcastic way, having played for Chicago the last two seasons in the NHL. He remembered the song they used to play for him during home games, but this time it was in a different tune.
Maybe that’s why he couldn’t concentrate, allowing four goals in the first 27 minutes, resulting in him being pulled out by Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, just 7:25 into the second period.
"It was as good as it possibly could be for him, getting that ovation that he did," said Blackhawks’ captain, Jonathan Toews, who recorded a career high in points this season after the game (71)."I'm pretty sure that's what it was. He's had our number in
a lot of games, so I think we owed him one tonight. Niemi's a heck of a goaltender and you can tell he's still got the respect of that crowd here in Chicago."
After leaving the game, Niemi responded to the crowd in a positive manner, saying he didn’t mind it too much and tried to take it like another game.
Antero Nittymaki was sent in to replace him but both combined could make only 28 saves while Hawks’ goalie, Corey Crawford, made a blistering 33 rejections in his 15th straight opening.
Joe Pavelski scored the opening goal early in the first for Sharks which was replied by Viktor Stalberg nearly 10 minutes later, tying the scores at 1-1, only to be taken up by Joe Thornton by a second assist from Patrick Marleau, making it 2-1 for San Jose
at the end of the first period.
It was all Chicago in the second period.
Marian Hossa scored two goals straight in the second period, about three minutes apart.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane went on a 2-on-1 breakaway, 7:25 into the second, shooting it through Niemi, resulting in a goalie change.
"If I was going to sum up the game: They skated and we glided", Sharks ‘coach, Todd McLellan, said. "They were hard on the boards, we were soft. They were determined at the net. We played 'I hope' around the net”.
Niklas Hjalmarsson tipped his third of the season through a fresh Nittymaki.
San Jose went into desperation mode, firing shots all over the place with Logan Couture able to get Sharks’ final goal of the night with less than three minutes remaining.
Patrick Sharp picked up his fourth assist of the night, all in the second period, becoming the first since 1973 in the franchise’s history, opening an opportunity for Patrick Kane from midway to score his 100th career goal.
Winning over San Jose snapped Chicago’s three-game losing streak, giving them those extra two points to secure a fourth spot in the Western Conference. It is still two points behind Sharks which is third with 86 points.
This extended Sharks losing streak to three games now. They go up against seventh placed Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
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