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With January over, Blackhawks look to end slide vs. Sharks

Feb 2, 2008 - 12:08 PM Chicago (23-24-4) at San Jose (28-16-7) 5:00 pm EST

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- The Chicago Blackhawks are happy a new month has begun.

The Blackhawks try to snap a three-game losing streak when continue their seven-game road trip Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, who begin a six-game homestand.

Chicago posted just a 4-9-1 record in January, beginning the month with seven straight losses before putting together a four-game winning streak.

But the Blackhawks failed to keep the momentum going, ending the month with a three-game slide that dropped them into the Central Division basement and 14th place in the Western Conference standings.

The Blackhawks' current skid began with a 3-2 road loss to the Sharks on January 22. They were shut out at home by the Columbus Blue Jackets two days later and began their road trip with a 6-3 setback at Colorado on Wednesday, when Yanic Perreault scored a pair of goals.

San Jose's victory over Chicago on January 22 started a three-game winning streak that was halted Wednesday, when former Sharks captain Owen Nolan netted three goals to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-4 triumph. It was Nolan's 11th career hat trick and first since October 4, 1999.

Patrick Rissmiller has scored in each of San Jose's last two games and All-Star Evgeni Nabokov leads the NHL with 28 victories. The former Calder Trophy-winning goaltender has started 50 of the Sharks' 51 contests this season.

San Jose, which has won two in a row at HP Pavilion, is 2-0-0 against Chicago this season, winning both of the previous meetings by one goal.