The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks met for the final time in the 2016-17 season. Goals were tough to come by for the first 58 minutes despite the talent both squads sent out on the ice. However, fans were treated to a fantastic hockey game, great goaltending and an exciting finish.
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First Period
The opening minutes of the contest were quick with both teams showing good jump coming off the break.
Ryan Hartman broke in alone on Martin Jones in the early going of the opening period but skied the puck over the net. The Sharks’ power play failed to make the Blackhawks pay when a soft hooking call sent Artemi Panarin to the penalty box.
The Charmin soft calls at least went both ways. Ryan Carpenter served his time for tripping Dennis Rasmussen in the offensive zone. The Blackhawks had a solid scoring chance when a puck deflected right into the crease, but Martin Jones was able to make the save and keep the game scoreless.
Hartman finally took a real penalty when he hooked Joe Pavelski as the Sharks winger tried to get some space to get a shot off, the Sharks power play did not do much with the extra skater.
Second Period
The Sharks carried play during the first quarter of the second period.
The Blackhawks went back on the man advantage when Brenden Dillon was late to pivot and was forced to dive for the puck but instead hauled down Richard Panik. The Sharks’ penalty killers did a great job to seal off the middle of the ice. Melker Karlsson had a great chance just as the teams went back to even strength but the puck skittered wide.
Moments later, Patrick Marleau’s quick hands deposited the puck into the net as Crawford sealed the wrong post. Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville challenged the play, and the officials ruled that Mikkel Boedker was offside, negating what would have been the opening goal and Marleau’s 499th tally.
The Sharks headed back to the power play when Artem Anisimov went to the box. The Sharks’ power play quickly set up, and Brent Burns shot from the point was stopped but the rebound went to Crawford’s left, and Marleau went short side for his second 499th goal of the game. But this one counted.
Marleau's 18th of the year puts him one away from the half-K 🚨#SJSharks pic.twitter.com/L2sep1vEI3
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) February 1, 2017
The action intensified and play opened up after the Marleau goal. Rasmussen tied the score at 16:53 with a wicked wrist shot on his off-wing, picking the corner on Martin Jones.
Paranin stripped Burns of the puck and got it to Patrick Kane who nearly put it five-hole on Jones, but the Sharks’ netminder was able to squeeze the pads and keep the game 1-1.
Third Period
Kevin Labanc slid a pass to Joel Ward for the opening scoring chance, but the big winger wasn’t able to get the shot off. Right after the Sharks’ chance, Kane went in on a breakaway and was hauled down by Burns. Kane jumped back up and got a shot on Jones and oddly was not awarded a penalty shot. The Blackhawks squandered the ensuing power play. Chicago kept pressing and Aminisov had a shot clank off the post, and the tied game continued.
The two sides both saw great changes to get the go-ahead goal, as there were numerous chances for both teams to get the regulation win. Finally, with 2:03 left in the game, Tomas Hertl slammed home the game winner. Burns took a shot from the blue line that went wide but came back into the crease. The puck bounced off Crawford’s right skate and slid over to Hertl who put home the game winner into the Chicago net.
The fun lives on :-))#SJSharks pic.twitter.com/LP3fiOK9bf
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) February 1, 2017
Joe Pavelski added the empty-net goal, and the Blackhawks lost three straight games in regulation for the first time this season.
Scoring Summary
First Period
(No Scoring)
Second Period
SJS – Patrick Marleau (18) (Power Play) Assisted by Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski
CHI – Dennis Rasmussen (4) Assisted by Richard Panik and Brent Seabrook
Third Period
SJS – Tomas Hertl (5) Assisted by Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski
SJS – Joe Pavelski (17) (empty net) Assisted by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton
THW Three Stars
First Star: Joe Pavelski (Goal, Two Assists)
Second Star: Brent Burns (Two Assists)
Third Star: Patrick Marleau (Goal #499)
NEXT UP
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks
Rogers Arena – 7:00 PM PST on Feb. 2, 2017
Broadcast Channels: CSN-CA, SNP
Season Series:
First Game of the Season Series
NEXT UP
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Arizona Coyotes
Gila River Arena – 9:00 PM EST on Feb. 2, 2017
Broadcast Channels: FS-A, CSN-CH
Season Series:
Dec. 6: Blackhawks 4 – Coyotes 0