RECAP: Blackhawks Can't Overcome Early Deficit, Lose 4-1 to Sharks

The Chicago Blackhawks couldn't overcome an early 3-0 deficit against the Sharks Saturday night, as they ultimately fell 4-1 in San Jose. The loss sent Chicago home from a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record.
Tyler Johnson scored the Blackhawks' only goal, and goaltender Kevin Lankinen stopped 14 of the 18 shots he faced.

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI at SJS
HIGHLIGHTS: Blackhawks at Sharks
GALLERY: Blackhawks at Sharks
STAT OF THE NIGHT:The Blackhawks won 62% of Saturday night's faceoffs.
UP NEXT: The Blackhawks return home to the United Center and welcome the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. Monday.

GAME RECAP

CHI: 0, SJS: 1 1st - 6:03 - Jasper Weatherby (Scott Reedy, Sasha Chmelevski)

Following a shotless opening five minutes from both the Blackhawks and Sharks, San Jose's transition speed allowed Sasha Chmelevski to record the first shot on goal from just outside the right faceoff dot. Kevin Lankinen made an initial left-pad save, but Scott Reedy found the rebound on his stick and fed Jasper Weatherby waiting at the top of the crease. Weatherby tapped in his fifth goal of the season.

CHI: 0, SJS: 22nd - 1:08 - Tomas Hertl (Timo Meier, Jaycob Megna)

An odd-man rush gave the Sharks an early 2-0 lead in the second period. The Blackhawks turned the puck over just outside the Sharks' blue line, and Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl found themselves facing a lone Chicago defenseman and Lankinen. Meier fed Hertl left to right, and Hertl beat Lankinen to the left side of the net. Hertl's goal was his 29th of the season.

CHI: 0, SJS: 32nd - 10:34 - Timo Meier (Alexander Barabanov)

Timo Meier capitalized on a Chicago turnover in the neutral zone and took advantage of net-front traffic to corral a pass from Alexander Barabanov and bolster the Sharks' lead. Meier's goal was his 34th of the season.

CHI: 1, SJS: 32nd - 15:38 - Tyler Johnson (Jonathan Toews)

Seth Jones started the Blackhawks' scoring sequence from the right corner of the blue line. Jones fed Jonathan Toews behind the net, and Chicago's captain back-handed a pass to Tyler Johnson in the slot. Johnson's wrist shot spoiled Kaapo Kahkonen's shutout hopes and put the Blackhawks on the scoresheet. The goal was Johnson's third of the season.

CHI: 1, SJS: 43rd - 6:19 - Nick Bonino (Brent Burns, Logan Couture) - PP

San Jose extended its lead on the man-advantage, as Reedy screened Lankinen and prevented Chicago's goaltender from seeing Nick Bonino's shot from inside the left face-off circle. Bonino's goal gave the Sharks their 4-0 lead and was his 13th of the season.