Blackhawks match record for opening point streak
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Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81), from Slovakia, celebrates his second goal of the game with Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) |
The Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night to give them 16 straight games with at least one point, matching the NHL record to start a season.
Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw scored in the shootout for the Blackhawks (13-0-3), who earned their third consecutive win and joined the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks as the only teams to record at least one point in the first 16 games of a season. The Ducks got off to a 12-0-4 start that year and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Chicago will go for the record Friday night when it hosts the San Jose Sharks for the second time in a week. But it could be without star forward Marian Hossa for that one after the winger had to be helped off the ice during the third period following a forearm to the back of the head from Vancouver forward Jannik Hansen.
Alexander Edler and Kevin Bieksa each scored in the final 2:42 of regulation for the Canucks, who opened a four-game trip with their third consecutive loss. Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist, and twin brother Henrik had two assists.
After Jonathan Toews of Chicago and Jordan Schroeder of Vancouver were denied in the shootout, Kane skated in on Cory Schneider and tried to stuff one in close to the goal. It was waved off as the puck trickled into the net, leading to boos from the sellout crowd and an exasperated reaction from Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.
Replays showed Schneider knocked it in with his glove, and the officials put the goal on the board after a short review.
Chris Higgins then converted his chance for the Canucks, and Shaw put the Blackhawks ahead once again with a nice backhander. That put all the pressure on Ryan Kesler, whose shot was gloved by Ray Emery to end the game.
Patrick Sharp scored in regulation for the second time in two games for the Blackhawks, who have won seven of eight overall. Emery, subbing again for Corey Crawford, made 29 saves to improve to 6-0 this season.
