SAN JOSE—Chicago denied the San Jose Sharks a sweep of this week’s three-game homestand by earning four goals in the third period to turn back the hosts 6-2 Saturday afternoon at sold-out SAP Center.
Holding onto the fifth spot in the Pacific Division and 10th in the Western Conference, the Sharks complete the March portion of the schedule with seven games on the road. After a date with conference foe Winnipeg Tuesday, the Sharks play four games in the Atlantic Division and two in the Metropolitan Division.
San Jose had won four of its past five games going into the showdown with Chicago, including wins over Pittsburgh and Nashville this week. San Jose was able to erase a pair of one-goal deficits in the first two periods before the Blackhawks solved the San Jose defense for four unanswered goals.
The Sharks generated enough offense to post a 14-9 edge in shots on net while earning a 12-2 margin in hits during the first period.
The Blackhawks came up with a 1-0 lead at the 6:03 mark when Patrick Sharp dipped behind the San Jose defense, then buried a rebound of his own shot past goaltender Antti Niemi.
San Jose pulled even at 16:49 on Melker Karlsson’s 12th goal of the season. The Sharks controlled an offensive zone face-off at 16:20, then hustled to keep the puck in play several times before Karlsson snapped a rebound of a Matt Irwin shot past goaltender Corey Crawford.
The Sharks were forced to play catch-up in the second period once again after Blackhawk Duncan Keith drilled a power-play goal from the blueline at the 8:45 mark. San Jose responded with a power-play goal at 12:16 when Joe Thornton lined a shot from the right point that bounded off the stick of defenseman Brent Seabrook and by Crawford.
Chicago notched the game-winner 1:21 into the third period. Brandon Saad recorded his 21st goal of the season, tying captain Jonathan Toews for the team lead, by breaking in for a successful shot past Niemi.
The Blackhawks took command at 4-2 at 4:56 when Bryan Bickell, unmarked in the slot, one-timed a feed from Brad Richards past Niemi.
Chicago padded the lead at 15-10 with a power-play goal from Sharp. Marian Hossa added his 19th goal, an empty-netter, at 17:44.
