Sharks at Blackhawks
THE STORY: The Chicago Blackhawks had a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division on Saturday. The Blackhawks are still leading the Red Wings but after an overtime loss, the edge is down to a single point. Things don’t get any easier on Sunday, when Chicago hosts the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks. Rivals from the 2010 playoffs, the Sharks and Blackhawks have played a pair of one-goal games already this season, with each coming out on top once. Chicago took the most recent meeting, 3-2, in overtime on Dec. 11. The Sharks are entering Sunday’s meeting hot with back-to-back wins and a 6-0-2 record in their last eight contests. The goaltending has been the strongest part of their game, with Antti Niemi and Thomas Greiss each posting solid performances during that stretch.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSCA (San Jose), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (25-11-5): Greiss made 25 saves in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Columbus on Saturday, so Niemi is likely to get the nod on Sunday as San Jose completes its four-game road trip. During their last six wins, the Sharks have surrendered a total of seven goals. Niemi bounced back from a shootout loss with a 24-save shutout in a 2-0 victory at Winnipeg on Thursday. Patrick Marleau tallied the game-winner on Sunday and has at least one point in 12 of his last 14 games to pace San Jose’s offense.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (26-13-6): The Central Division is shaping up to be one of the best races of the season. Chicago is currently tied with St. Louis (26-12-6), one point ahead of Detroit and four north of the Nashville Predators. The Blackhawks lost control of the division with a four-game slide to begin January but have pulled back with a 2-0-1 mark in the last three. After twin 5-2 victories earlier in the week, Chicago stormed back from a two-goal deficit only to fall in overtime at Detroit.
OVERTIME:
1. Niemi is 4-1-0-1 with a 2.32 goals-against average in six career regular-season starts against the Blackhawks.
2. Marleau has been held without a point in the two games against Chicago this season.
3. Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews broke a five-game goalless drought with the tying tally on Saturday.