Sharks 2 - 3 Blackhawks
Final - OT
  for this game

Sharp's late OT goal sends Blackhawks past Sharks

Dec 12, 2011 - 5:15 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Patrick Sharp's goal with 34 seconds left in overtime lifted Chicago over San Jose, 3-2, at United Center.

Andrew Brunette and Marcus Kruger also tallied for the Blackhawks, winners in six of their last eight games.

Ray Emery stopped 35 shots for the victory.

"He was great tonight," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said of Emery. "They put everything at the net, including bodies, and he was fighting through it all."

Jamie McGinn and Justin Braun provided the offense for the Sharks, who have lost six of eight.

Antti Niemi played well in defeat, making 31 saves.

Chicago tied the game with 1:06 left in regulation.

Emery was on the bench for an extra skater and the Blackhawks won a left- circle draw. Jonathan Toews dished back to Sharp, who cycled back to Duncan Keith. He passed to Hossa, and that long shot from the right point was redirected home by Brunette.

In the extra period, Hossa cranked his shot from the right circle and Sharp, positioned atop Niemi's crease, managed to chip the puck over the goal line for the winner.

"Great job by the team to tie it up late in the game and steal one in overtime," said Sharp. "It wasn't the prettiest game but that's what we're gonna have to do here down the stretch."

McGinn opened the scoring for San Jose at 16:25 of the first period, but Kruger responded for Chicago less than eight minutes into the second.

Braun put the Sharks ahead by a 2-1 count on a wrister through traffic from the bottom of the right circle.

Game Notes

San Jose had won four of the previous five meetings...Chicago improved to 6-3-1 against the Pacific Division this season and 9-2-3 on home ice...Hossa notched a pair of assists...Braun's first goal of the season was the third in his 42-game career.






Related News