RECAP: Blackhawks Down Sharks, 6-2
Chicago overcomes early deficit to earn first victory of the season over San Jose
by Carter Baum @CarterBaum / Blackhawks.com
The Blackhawks went down early, but stormed back in a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Patrick Kane netted a pair of goals and Duncan Keith, Brandon Saad, Alex Nylander and Dominik Kubalik each tallied in the win. Corey Crawford stopped 34 shots in the victory.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kane, with his fifth mulit-goal game of the season, gave the Blackhawks the lead in the second and they never looked back. His second of the night put the game away officially late with a 5-2 advantage.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: With assists on the first three Blackhawks goals, Alex DeBrincat posted his second three-assist night of the season (Nov. 10 vs. TOR).
UP NEXT: Chicago hosts the Ottawa Senators on Friday night at the United Center
GAME RECAP
The Sharks drew first blood in the opening frame during a 5-on-3 advantage as Evander Kane notched his team-leading 26th goal of the season. Joe Thornton found the winger in front from the half wall, where Kane redirected a heavy pass on goal and over the shoulder of Crawford for a 1-0 lead at the 10:49 mark.
Chicago in on the power play fun at 4:33 of the second period as DeBrincat found Keith at the point, where the defenseman fired a shot throught a Kirby Dach screen in front, tying the game 1-1.
Video: SJS@CHI: Keith rips shot through screen for PPG
Towards the end of the period, Kane struck on the power play at 16:33 to make it a 2-1 Chicago lead. DeBrincat sent a cross-ice feed off an odd-man rush that Showtime put into a gaping Sharks net with an extended reach in the slot.
Video: SJS@CHI: Kane taps DeBrincat's nice feed home for PPG
The Blackhawks struck again 85 seconds later as Brandon Saad put a deke on Dell alone in tight before sliding a shot between the netminder's legs for a 3-1 lead. DeBrincat notched his third assist in as many goals on the night with the primary setup at 17:58.
Video: SJS@CHI: Saad slips DeBrincat's pass past Dell
Nylander made it a 4-1 game just 91 seconds into the third period as Strome set him up off a 3-on-2 rush. Strome forced a neutral-zone turnover and carried the puck in on the counter, pulling up at the far-side dot and finding the trailer Nylander, who beat Dell with a quick one-timer at 18:29.
Video: SJS@CHI: Nylander hammers Strome's feed past Dell
San Jose pulled one back at 6:39 of the final period as Timo Meier picked up a puck off an offensive zone draw and quickly fired a shot past Crawford to make it a 4-2 game.
Kane sealed the deal at the 16:19 mark with his second of the night, firing a feed from Slater Koekkoek on goal and jamming home his own rebound to give the Blackhawks a 5-2 lead with under four minutes to play.
Video: SJS@CHI: Kane scores in 3rd period
Kubalik ripped home a slap shot on a juicy rebound at 18:03 to make it 6-2 late.