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Sharp shorthanded goal lifts Blackhawks to rare win

Apr 2, 2007 - 12:01 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Patrick Sharp and the Chicago Blackhawks are playing for pride. The Edmonton Oilers are just waiting for the end of a disappointing season.

Patrick Sharp netted a shorthanded goal early in the third period to lift the Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the Oilers.

Martin Havlat broke out of a scrum with the puck and passed ahead to a streaking Sharp, who faked left and beat Edmonton goaltender Dwayne Roloson just under the crossbar in the upper right-hand corner of the goal to give Chicago the lead at the 2:57 mark of the third. Sharp reached 20 goals in a season for the first time in his four-year career.

"I didn't want to finish the season with 19 goals, so this is nice," Sharp said. "Marty Havlat told me after I scored 19 he would make sure I got No. 20, and he did. That was great pass from him."

"We talked a little after the last game about it (No. 20)," Havlat said. "I saw him breaking for net and gave him the puck. He made a nice goal. Patrick has been playing great of late."

Brent Seabrook assisted on the first Blackhawks' goal. The second-year defenseman has four assists over the past two games, both Chicago wins.

Tuomu Ruutu scored Chicago's first goal 6:16 into the second period, recording his first tally since March 15 at Los Angeles.

"It has been so long I almost forgot what it is like to score, but it was good," Ruutu said. "I just went to the net, and Brent Seabrook found me."

"I am happy for our guys, they played hard and deserved a win," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said. "I am glad for Patrick (Sharp). I know he wanted to get to 20 goals, he made a nice shot for the goal."

Edmonton, which represented the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup finals just last season, has lost four straight games. The team is in last place in the Northwest Division, 20 points behind the Colorado Avalanche (41-30-7).

"It was an evenly played game and our effort was better," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "Our undoing tonight was not scoring on a 5-3 then giving up the game winner while we were on a power play."

Raffi Torres scored the lone goal for the Oilers, who are 1-15-1 in their last 17 contests.

"I thought we came out and skated well," Torres said. "Then when they killed off our 5-on-3, they got a boost from that."