The Morning After: 'Hawks Hold Off Sharks; Loyola, UIC Fall

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 29, 2010 4:00PM

'Hawks Hold Off Sharks In OT
We should have known it wouldn't be that easy. The 'Hawks, second place overall in the Western Conference, jumped out to a big lead early on the first place San Jose Sharks but would have to go to overtime to earn the 4-3 victory. Chicago scored a trio of goals in a 3:21 span early in the first period to take a big 3-0 lead: Dustin Byfuglien got his 100th NHL career point with the first goal of the game, Troy Brouwer followed up less than a minute later, and Andrew Ladd netted his 10th goal of the season to round out the attack. But San Jose proved why they're one of the NHL's elite teams and fought back, scoring before the end of the first, once more in the second, and getting the equalizer early in the third, and Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov stopped 32 straight shots after allowing the early goals. But, despite the comeback, it was the 'Hawks night as Brouwer scored his second goal of the game 1:37 into overtime to give Chicago the win. Huet had 34 saves overall in net for the 'Hawks who remain in second place, one point back of San Jose in the Western Conference. Last night's meeting was the last of the season between the two teams. The 'Hawks are now 5-2 on the eight-game-Disney-on-Ice roadtrip and wrap it up Saturday night in Carolina (6 p.m., WGN).

College Basketball

• Loyola kept it close with Detroit in the first half, even leading at halftime, but the Titans pulled away in the second half for an 83-63 win. Terrance Hill had 20 points and 8 rebounds for the Ramblers.
• UIC's struggles continued as Wright State cruised to a 79-43 win. Robo Kreps led the Flames with 16 points and Chris Buchanan scored 11 off the bench.