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Sharp allows Blackhawks to snap skid, top Predators

Jan 14, 2008 - 5:10 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - Patrick Sharp opened the scoring in the second period and finished the contest in the third round of the shootout as the Chicago Blackhawks snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

After Patrick Lalime made a diving save on Alexander Radulov in the third round of the bonus format, Sharp backhanded a wrist shot past goaltender Dan Ellis for the winner.

"That's an area we maybe need to work on a little bit - the goaltenders and the forwards," Ellis said of the shootout. "We have to find ways to stop the puck, and the other guys have to find ways to score."

Nashville, which has dropped two straight games in the shootout, lost in the bonus format to Columbus on Saturday night.

Sharp opened the scoring 77 seconds into the second period.

From the right boards, Martin Havlat sent a cross-ice pass to Sharp to the left of Ellis. Sharp deflected the puck out of midair past Ellis' stick and into the net.

"We stuck with it, even though it took the overtime and shootout to get the win," Sharp said. "We didn't want to keep this losing streak going, and a lot of our key players stood up tonight and played well."

Sharp has five goals in five games and Havlat has four assists in two games against the Predators this season.

The top overall pick in the 2007 draft, Patrick Kane also scored in the shootout for Chicago. Radek Bonk had the lone Nashville tally in the bonus format.

"We had great goaltending, (but) let's face it, Patty has had two strong games his last two," Chicago coach Denis Savard said. "It's a big win for us, and hopefully it keeps going for us."

Defenseman Marek Zidlicky tied the game at 1-1 at 4:49 of the third period.

With Nashville on the power play, J.P. Dumont sent a pass from the right faceoff dot to Zidlicky, who was in the lower part of the left circle. Zidlicky one-timed the puck past Lalime.

The goal was Zidlicky's fourth of the season, with three coming on the power play. He had nine and 10 power-play goals in his first two NHL campaigns, but his production dropped off significantly last season, scoring just twice with the man advantage.

Robert Lang regained the lead for Chicago with under nine minutes remaining in the third period.

Havlat forced a Nashville turnover and passed the puck to Kane. The rookie fed Lang in the left circle, and his one-timer slipped between the pads of Ellis.

"They have scored 11 of their 18 goals against us, so yeah those two guys are hot when they play us, that's for sure," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said of Sharp and Lang. "A lot of their offense comes from things generated from the team, and we want to shut them down, but we didn't."

"It was a great, level hockey game for us," Savard said. "We got the win, and that is all that matters."

David Legwand leveled the game nearly three minutes later with his 10th goal of the season.

"I think we started getting people in front of Lalime, and he wasn't really seeing the shots well," Legwand said. "When the goalie doesn't see the puck, it is our best chance to score."