Morning Box Score: Blackhawks Repel Sharks

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 16, 2013 3:00PM

Blackhawks 4, San Jose 1

The Blackhawks earned two points and remained the NHL's only unbeaten team in regulation thanks to a stellar middle 20 minutes at the United Center Friday night. Chicago pressured Antti Niemi all game, resulting in three of their four goals being scored on rebounds, including what proved to be the game winner by Marcus Kruger 3:05 into the second period. Dave Bolland, Andrew Shaw and Niklas Hjalmarsson scored goals for the Hawks, who didn't need their big three of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa to score.

The Blackhawks held a 37-28 shots on goal advantage. Ray Emery, starting for the concussed Corey Crawford, stopped 27 of the shots he faced. The game also featured a rare fight between captains late in the first period when Toews dropped the gloves and mixed it up with San Jose's Joe Thornton.

The Hawks are now two games shy of tying San Jose's record for starting a season with an unbeaten record in regulation.