Martin Jones, Sharks top Chicago
The Sharks scored two first-period goals and rode the hot goaltending of Martin Jones again for a 2-1 win over Chicago in front of 17,501 fans at SAP Center on Wednesday.
Jones stopped 33 of 34 shots to deny the best team in the Western Conference, which lost its captain, Jonathan Toews, for the second half of the game with an undisclosed injury.
“Good hockey game,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said.
The Blackhawks scored the only goal of the second period to trim San Jose’s advantage to one during a middle session that was as action-packed and energy-filled as the first.
Jones was on top of his game coming off a 26-save shutout Monday, but could do nothing about an Artemi Panarin one-timer from the top of the left circle at 12:11.
The Sharks escaped with a 2-0 lead on special-teams goals during an opening 20 minutes that were as entertaining as any period at home this season.
Chicago’s first power play turned into San Jose’s advantage, however, when Joel Ward scored his second goal of the season shorthanded at 14:42.
Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook lost a gamble when he dived to try to keep a clearing attempt by San Jose’s Chris Tierney in the Sharks’ zone.