Blackhawks 5 - 3 Sharks
Final
  for this game

Surging Blackhawks try to hand Sharks 3rd straight loss

Feb 5, 2013 - 4:26 PM (Sports Network) - Now the lone team in the NHL without a regulation loss, the Chicago Blackhawks try to push their season-opening point streak to 10 straight on Tuesday evening. They'll look to do so against the San Jose Sharks, who are fresh off their first defeat in 60 minutes this season.

The Blackhawks won each of their first six games this year before suffering back-to-back shootout losses on the road in Minnesota and Vancouver to begin a season-long six-game swing. Chicago went into the breakaway session again on Saturday in Calgary, but escaped with a 3-2 win over the Flames.

Marian Hossa netted the game-tying goal with 2.1 seconds left in regulation and Patrick Kane, who had a goal and an assist in regulation, had the lone shootout tally, beating Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff between the legs in the second round.

Ray Emery then capped his incredible performance by turning aside the Flames' Roman Cervenka. He ended with a career-high 45 saves and stopped all three skaters in the shootout.

"We have to call the cops after that performance," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said of Emery's effort. "He was spectacular. It was a special performance."

Quenneville's club showed no quit after the Flames went ahead by a goal with just 34.2 ticks left in the third period. Hossa's late tally sent the Blackhawks past regulation for a fourth straight game and for the fifth time in their past six.

Chicago could get a rested body back on Tuesday after Dave Bolland returned to practice on Monday. He missed the Flames game with a right leg injury suffered in Vancouver.

The Blackhawks will try to extend the Sharks' first losing streak of the season, back-to-back defeats that followed a 7-0 start.

San Jose dropped a shootout test to Nashville on Saturday prior to Monday night's 2-1 loss in Anaheim. Logan Couture put the Sharks ahead in the first period with his sixth goal of the season, but the Ducks scored twice in the third.

"It was a good, competitive game tonight," said San Jose center Joe Thornton. "We had the puck around the net, but it was tough getting it in."

Backup Thomas Greiss made 31 saves for the Sharks, who were without defenseman Dan Boyle because of the flu.

The Sharks and Blackhawks split their four meetings a season ago, but San Jose has won four straight at home in this series.






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