Seabrook’s OT goal lifts Blackhawks over Sharks

Nov 15, 11:11 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
  • Print

CHICAGO (AP)—A perfect homestand against the Western Conference elite reminded the Chicago Blackhawks just how good they are.

“We feel we can win any night, against any team,” said Brent Seabrook(notes), whose goal 41 seconds into overtime Sunday night lifted the Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. “We have a great group … and we want to prove that.”

By rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat the team with the NHL’s best record, Chicago completed a 4-0 homestand that also included games against Colorado and Los Angeles. The Blackhawks, who reached the conference finals six months ago, have won seven consecutive at home.

“Down two against a top team like that, you’re not very often going to come back and get (the victory),” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “You’ve got to take advantage of home ice. We’ve been pretty effective to date.”

At 10-2-1, the Blackhawks have the league’s best home record. They hadn’t won seven straight at the United Center since midway through the 2001-02 season. Chicago begins a six-game road trip Thursday and doesn’t return home until Dec. 1.

Seabrook has two goals this season—both OT winners.

Evgeni Nabokov(notes) made a nice save on Troy Brouwer(notes) but Jonathan Toews(notes) chased down the puck, skated in front of the net and fed Seabrook, who scored on a wrister from the slot.

The Sharks extended their streak of games with at least a point to 12 (9-0-3). They haven’t had a regulation defeat since Oct. 22 at Tampa Bay, but Sunday’s result came only three nights after a shootout loss to Dallas in which they also blew a two-goal lead.

“You’ve got to bear down, hold on to those games,” Sharks center Joe Pavelski(notes) said. “It is the second time in three games and maybe it’s an issue, but I don’t think so. We’re pretty resilient.”

Chicago’s Brent Sopel(notes) and San Jose’s Dany Heatley(notes) scored in the first period. It was Heatley’s 14th goal, tying him for the NHL lead.

Rookie defenseman Jason Demers(notes) scored his first career goal and Patrick Marleau(notes) followed 45 seconds later with his league-high ninth road goal to put the Sharks up 3-1 early in the second period.

Midway through the second, Patrick Kane(notes) beat Nabokov from the left circle after taking a nice centering feed from Toews. Kane has a seven-game point streak.

San Jose had two chances later in the period to regain its two-goal lead. At 13:43, a video review confirmed the puck didn’t cross the goal line after a scramble in front of Chicago goalie Cristobal Huet(notes). About 2 minutes later, Marleau’s shot hit the crossbar.

“Sometimes the hockey gods don’t work in your favor,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “If we could have gotten the fourth one, it could have worked in our favor. But they fought back, and that’s what good teams do.”

The Blackhawks capitalized on their good fortune, tying it on John Madden’s(notes) rebound goal with 1:19 left in the period.

Each goalie made several nice saves in the scoreless third period. Huet ensured the game would go into overtime when he kicked aside Scott Nichol’s(notes) 30-foot slap shot with 12 seconds left in regulation.

NOTES: Blackhawks LW Kris Versteeg(notes) sat out with what Quenneville called a “short-term” upper-body injury. … The Sharks, who have scored on almost a third of their road power-play opportunities, became the first team in seven games to score with a man-advantage against the Blackhawks. … The crowd of 21,130 was a Chicago season high. … The Blackhawks honored former All-Star Jeremy Roenick(notes), who finished his 20-year career last season as a member of the Sharks. Roenick scored 267 of his 513 career goals during his eight years with the Blackhawks, who drafted him in 1988.

Updated Nov 15, 11:11 pm EST
digg del.icio.us
more
NHL

36 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Slazz
    36. Posted by Slazz Tue Nov 17 8:46am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey Icedragon, by looking at the points it was a valid point by the AP writer. The Av's are leading their division and have been hot. The Kings, until we basically owned them last week were playing pretty decent hockey also. They are a good team and one that can be dangerous. Some very good young talent on LA and I have a feeling they will be right there with the Sharks all year long.
  2. Young L
    35. Posted by Young L Tue Nov 17 1:42am EST

    Report Abuse

    Not bad
    but defensemen sucking now, i'm mean
    they can't get out the puck zone in neutral zone.
    against nashville is very tough again.
    So watch out and defensemen:
    Wake up sharks's defensemen.
    Get out of zone and don't give your own player.
    Wow, I'm pissed off. Shark will knock out of playoffs.
    GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr
  3. nnamdi
    34. Posted by nnamdi Mon Nov 16 8:21pm EST

    Report Abuse

    That was preview of the Western Conference Finals.... Very good match up.
  4. Big Al
    33. Posted by Big Al Mon Nov 16 7:59pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Jordan s @ 29. No, he meant Huet, who happens to be the Hawk's goalie.
  5. Icedragon
    32. Posted by Icedragon Mon Nov 16 5:57pm EST

    Report Abuse

    "A perfect homestand against the Western Conference elite...that also included games against Colorado and Los Angeles". Not to take anything away from the accomplishment, but since when is LA considered one of the Wests elite teams? It's a bit early to be declaring teams like LA and Colorado as "elite" I should say. Oh well, as long as the Hawks can prevent the Wings from taking the division title *again*, I'll be happy.
  6. J G
    31. Posted by J G Mon Nov 16 3:19pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Different ballgame if the Sharks are awarded a goal when it wasn't a goal? I guess if the Blackhawks were awarded one extra goal they didn't score it is a different ballgame, too.
  7. Southside JB
    29. Posted by Southside JB Mon Nov 16 11:02am EST

    Report Abuse

    Different ballgame if the Sharks are rewarded with the goal. But, they got tired in the end and sloppy play in overtime. Tired legs and heads! Give the Hawks credit, they kept coming back. Sharks 5 games in 8 days! Oh, and cross the country! Go Sharks from a former southsider!
  8. JordanS
    28. Posted by JordanS Mon Nov 16 10:19am EST

    Report Abuse

    I think you mean their
  9. Nwaf A
    27. Posted by Nwaf A Mon Nov 16 10:10am EST

    Report Abuse

    huet is there only question.

    can he be consistent enough for them to win?
  10. Terry
    26. Posted by Terry Mon Nov 16 9:06am EST

    Report Abuse

    Wow....we have a REAL player here,

    I play goalie in a recreational league....and I'm from Arkansas. I play goalie only because I can't skate. Am I not capable of an opinion like you....or do I need to move to Canada?

    You are a fricktard.

    Question me on football, Apparently growing up in Arkansas entitles my opinion greater than yours when it comes to football....and yours means more on hockey because you see yellow when you piss on your front lawn in February.

    Frick off. I simply can't stand dickwads like you that act like you own any sport.

    Tool.
  11. Terry
    25. Posted by Terry Mon Nov 16 8:59am EST

    Report Abuse

    Sharks ran out of gas in the 3rd. They hit in the 1st and second, wearing down the hawks. Not to worry. The hawks could never beat the sharks in a 7 game series

    The Blackhawks would win in 4. The Sharks are perpetual losers with a loser mentality. Get a grip.
  12. <i>j_durston8</i>
    24. Posted by j_durston8 Mon Nov 16 8:34am EST

    Report Abuse

    none of ya'll know hockey- clearly
    I'm actually interested ta know how many of you meatheads have actually played the game?
    I'm gunna say the majority of you are americans which would explain everything, always have your two cents..well keep it, i dont wanna leave you broke,

    This was a battle of the two top dogs in the west..is this playoff hockey- not a chance.

    who's to say Hossa is the best forward on the Hawks? remember he is competing with P.Kane and J.Toews..Hossa was brought in to be a helping hand to get past where they were last year- the western conference finals.

    Statictically Speaking Nabokov is a top 4 goalie in the league..however the chicago offense ranks in the top 5..Naby is not to blame here. It's hockey and the Sharks blew the worst lead in hockey, a two goal deficit.

    In "my opinion" getting Hossa this far in to the season is like a really good trade they just made which will enhance the Hawks squad..prior to this season I had the Hawks winning the Presidents Trophy along with representing the West in the stanley cup final. This win shows the depth and character of the Hawks with the injury they do have. (versteeg mainly, Hossa hasnt played a game yet)

    my complaint here isnt the Sharks blowin the two goal lead..it's the Hawks still playing come from behind hockey they did it in the post season last year and obviously did it again last night against a conference rival.
    I would like to see both of these two teams in the western final- watchin Detroit every year is geting Boring

    Go Bruins Go
    -Durst
  13. Eric S
    23. Posted by Eric S Mon Nov 16 8:20am EST

    Report Abuse

    I had my doubts about this year's Blackhawk team but they're looking better than ever. GO HAWKS!
  14. Slazz
    22. Posted by Slazz Mon Nov 16 5:48am EST

    Report Abuse

    And who knows maybe this year the Sharks will actually win a seven game series when it matters, cause they have such a strong record of doing so in the past with the great goalie they have.
  15. Slazz
    21. Posted by Slazz Mon Nov 16 5:43am EST

    Report Abuse

    "Sharks ran out of gas in the 3rd. They hit in the 1st and second, wearing down the hawks. Not to worry. The hawks could never beat the sharks in a 7 game series"

    With the injuries the Hawks have now that might be the case, but thats what everyone said about Calgary and Vancouver last year. Great predictions. The Hawks haven't even had their best forward play one minute not to mention they had a patchwork lineup at center last night. They just came from behind and beat the Sharks with a depleted injury ridden team.....lol
  16. Slazz
    20. Posted by Slazz Mon Nov 16 5:36am EST

    Report Abuse

    Nabokov needs to keep handling the puck imo. lol
  17. AJ
    19. Posted by AJ Mon Nov 16 4:01am EST

    Report Abuse

    If only Thornton played defense and covered Seabrook, that shot would not have been taken. Jumbo continues to play stride and glide hockey.
  18. Unless review finder
    18. Posted by Unless review finder Mon Nov 16 3:22am EST

    Report Abuse

    Sharks ran out of gas in the 3rd. They hit in the 1st and second, wearing down the hawks. Not to worry. The hawks could never beat the sharks in a 7 game series
  19. LW
    17. Posted by LW Mon Nov 16 2:53am EST

    Report Abuse

    Only the Sharks' announcers can claim that Nabokov played a "good game" after he gave up 4 goals with an 86 save percentage. What a joke.
  20. Jeannie W
    16. Posted by Jeannie W Mon Nov 16 12:36am EST

    Report Abuse

    Oops, I mean 12 straight games. Sorry.
  21. Jeannie W
    15. Posted by Jeannie W Mon Nov 16 12:25am EST

    Report Abuse

    @15 SharksFinatic- You can't be too disappointed with a point on the road against a good team. And 15 straight games with at least a point? Awesome! No other team can boast that this year. Take the point and run with it!
  22. NHL_SharksFinatic
    14. Posted by NHL_SharksFinatic Sun Nov 15 11:58pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Disappointing loss. We had a good lead over a great team, but just couldn't close it. In the end, Nabby's stats look awful, but he saved quite a few there. Was left out to dry on the Madden and Seabrook goals though... defense needs to be careful.

    And what is it with Huet and pucks on the goal line?

    Good job Hawks.
  23. aks77
    13. Posted by aks77 Sun Nov 15 10:36pm EST

    Report Abuse

    The Sharks were fortunate to get one point out of the game after blowing a 3-1 lead to a very good Chicago team in a tough building.
  24. Slazz
    12. Posted by Slazz Sun Nov 15 10:33pm EST

    Report Abuse

    And they keep on rolling with some key injuries. Go Hawks!
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Three Stars

  Three Stars
B. Seabrook
 		Brent Seabrook
Blackhawks - D
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
N. Hjalmarsson
 		Niklas Hjalmarsson
Blackhawks - D
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
J. Thornton
 		Joe Thornton
Sharks - C
Goals: 0
Assists: 1

Goaltending

Goalie Team Shot Save
Evgeni Nabokov SJ 30 26
Cristobal Huet Chi 23 20

Scoreboard

Sunday, Nov 15
Watch Live Hockey Online with GameCenter Live™

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.