Sharks at Blackhawks
The San Jose Sharks have been relentless of late in their quest for the top spot in the Pacific Division and look to keep rolling when they begin their final road trip of the regular season Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. San Jose recorded its seventh consecutive win on Saturday, a 5-1 triumph over Calgary that completed a perfect three-game homestand and pulled it within six points division-leading Vegas with seven games remaining.
Evander Kane scored twice to give him seven goals and 12 points in 12 games since being acquired from Buffalo by the Sharks, who are on their longest winning streak since a seven-game run from March 25-April 5, 2013. The 26-year-old left wing has recorded a total of 27 tallies this season and needs three to match the career high he set in 2011-12 while with Winnipeg. Chicago, which will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08, ended its five-game slide Saturday with a 3-1 road triumph over the New York Islanders. Patrick Kane scored his team-leading 26th goal in the victory by the Blackhawks, who have dropped three straight at home (0-2-1).
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE SHARKS (43-23-9): San Jose could begin its four-game trek without Logan Couture, who exited Saturday's victory midway through the third period with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old center, who leads the team with 31 goals, notched an assist before leaving to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists). Couture is three points behind team co-leaders captain Joe Pavelski and defenseman Brent Burns, and one tally away from matching the career high he set in 2010-11.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (31-36-9): Kane tops the club with 72 points, collecting five goals and 14 assists over his last 18 games. The 29-year-old former Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner has not been kept off the scoresheet in consecutive contests since a five-game stretch from Feb. 8-15. Chicago hopes to have captain Jonathan Toews back in the lineup soon as the captain has missed the last two contests with an upper-body injury, which he suffered in Tuesday's home loss to Colorado.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose RW Jannik Hansen has tallied twice during his three-game point streak after being held without a goal in his first 39 contests this season.
2. Chicago recalled C Victor Ejdsell from Rockford of the American Hockey League and agreed to terms with C Dylan Sikura on a two-year contract.
3. The Sharks recalled D Tim Heed, who recorded three goals and eight assists in 29 games with the team earlier this season, from the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL.