The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Hossa scores in OT as Blackhawks extend points streak to 19 games with 3-2 win over Oilers
CHICAGO - Marian Hossa skated along the boards, pumping his right arm as the United Center roared its approval.
Go ahead and give two more points to the streaking Chicago Blackhawks.
Hossa scored 1:44 into overtime and the Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday night to stretch their NHL-record opening points streak to 19 games.
Patrick Sharp set up the winning goal with a quick turn along the boards and a drive to the goal that led to two stops by Nikolai Khabibulin. Hossa picked up the second rebound and was again stuffed by Khabibulin before he poked it in for his ninth goal of the season.
"It is a great feeling, obviously," Hossa said. "It doesn't matter who's scoring and lately we have a lot of different guys scoring. We try to enjoy the streak, keep playing a simple game and try to find a way to win."
Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg also scored for Chicago (16-0-3), which has won six straight and nine of 10. Ray Emery made 17 saves to remain unbeaten in eight starts this season.
The Blackhawks have earned 35 of 38 possible points so far this season.
"It was a great third period," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "We had the puck in overtime, too. Great pay by Sharpie going to the net, great patience and presence with Hossa to finish."
Nail Yakupov and Jeff Petry had the goals for Edmonton, which carried a 2-1 lead into the third period but couldn't hold on for its fourth consecutive victory over the Blackhawks. Khabibulin had 31 stops in the opener of the Oilers' franchise-record, nine-game road trip.
"Of course you feel pain, having the lead going into the third period," Edmonton coach Ralph Krueger said. "It's definitely something you dream and believe you can close it. But they are an amazingly powerful team. They are very strong on the puck and they never, never let up, at all."
Edmonton grabbed the lead for the last time in the second, taking advantage when Brandon Saad was sent off for high sticking. Yakupov, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, one-timed a pass from Sam Gagner into the right side of the net at 14:17 for his fourth power-play goal and sixth overall.
Chicago looked listless for much of the second, but rebounded quickly in the third. Michal Rozsival was behind the net when he sent a pass in front to Stalberg, who poked the puck into the mouth of goal as Khabibulin went to his knees to try for the stop.
The call on the ice was no goal, but replays showed the puck crossed the line before Khabibulin could make the play and Stalberg was awarded his fifth goal of the season after a short review.
The pace picked up after the tying goal, and each team had a couple of solid chances to move in front. Yakupov shot off the post on one power-play opportunity, and Khabibulin stopped Hossa on a short-handed chance.
"I think for us it would have been a big statement game if we were able to break the streak," Gagner said. "But at the same time, once we didn't do that, we wanted to find a way to get it in overtime and were unable to do that as well. So it was unfortunate we kind of squandered the lead there."
Edmonton moved in front in the first period after Duncan Keith lost his footing and coughed up the puck deep in Chicago's end. Lennart Petrell picked it up and skated in all alone on Emery, who stopped his backhand attempt. The rebound went out to Petry, who sent it over the prone goalie at 4:28.
Just over a minute later, Kane skated to the middle of the ice and beat Khabibulin with a slick backhander for his 10th goal of the season. It was his first goal since Feb. 10 at Nashville, ending a six-game drought.
"We keep finding ways to win," said Sharp, who picked up his 400th career point on the assist in overtime. "That's important at any time of the year. Those one-goal games, we're on the right side of them. We were thankful to pull it out today."
NOTES: Chicago closed out a 6-0-1 homestand. ... Edmonton F Taylor Hall served the second of a two-game suspension for his hit on Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck on Thursday. ... Blackhawks C Dave Bolland missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Chicago also scratched D Sheldon Brookbank and LW Brandon Bollig for the second straight night. ... Ds Ryan Whitney and Theo Peckham were the other scratches for the Oilers. ... The Blackhawks improved to 10-0-3 in one-goal games.
___
Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
More NHL
- Back to Top
- Return to NHL
More NHL
(1 of 7 articles for today)
Memorial Cup dream final involves top three prospects
1:00 AM 0SASKATOON -- Ty Rattie scored the winner in the third period and Mac Carruth made 34 saves as the Portland ...
Poll
Most Popular NHL
- Season over for pesky Sens: Pittsburgh eliminates Ottawa from playoffs in Game 5
- Knights shred Blades for berth
- Don Cherry criticizes Canucks general manager Gillis on Coach's Corner
- Hockeytown heroes on a roll
- Quick shuts out Sharks again, and LA Kings surge ahead in series with gritty 3-0 win in Game 5
- Winnipeg's Leipsic signs with Preds
- Blueshirts still alive, kicking
- He's his father's son BUT...
- Blackhawks focusing on Game 5 as they try to battle back against surging Red Wings
- Struggling C Brad Richards scratched by Rangers for potential elimination game vs Bruins
- Pittsburgh Penguins take Game 4 with 7-3 romp over Ottawa Senators
- Ex-Jets MacLean, Carlyle on Sochi coaching list
- Colin Greening has OT winner in Senators 2-1 victory; Penguins lead series 2-1
- Red Wings flying high
- Don Cherry criticizes Canucks general manager Gillis on Coach's Corner
- B's bring their A game
- Sharks fined $100,000 for GM Doug Wilson's comments about Raffi Torres' suspension
- Sweden beats Switzerland 5-1, wins gold at world hockey championship
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- Tale of two stars as Crosby outshines Karlsson in Penguins 4-3 win over Senators
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Grapes claims women have no place in locker-room
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Former Leafs GM Burke files defamation suit
- Sens packing plenty of punch
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- Get it through your thick head, NHL
- From the rubble of disaster: Lokomotiv picking up pieces after entire team was killed in a 2011 plane crash
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Avalanche remain silent on report that former star goalie Patrick Roy may return as coach
- Sharks try to shrug off Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Kings in Game 5
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Classy group joining Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
- Tim Leiweke named president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Pesky Sens: Turris scores in OT as Ottawa beats Montreal to grab 3-1 series lead
- Sharks will be without injured F Adam Burish for 2nd round of playoffs
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- The Boston OT Party
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
Ads by Google











You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.