Hertl's late goal gives Sharks victory over Blackhawks
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Tomas Hertl scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:03 remaining to give the Sharks a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on a night Patrick Marleau pulled to within one of his 500th career goal.
Hertl scored his fifth goal of the season in front after defenseman Brent Burns sent a hard carom off the end boards that ricocheted past Joe Thornton to Hertl, who was playing only his second game after missing 32 with a knee injury.
Captain Joe Pavelski added an empty-net goal with 45.5 seconds left and Martin Jones stopped 24 shots as San Jose won the season series from the Blackhawks 2-1.
Marleau scored his 499th career goal on San Jose's third power play to break a scoreless tie late in the second period.
The 19-year veteran pounced on a rebound left by Corey Crawford on a shot in close by Pavelski and punched a forehand into the upper part of the net short side at 14:06.
Pavelski, who tipped a drive from Burns at the right point, was battling Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith in front.
Marleau and the non-sellout crowd of 17,424 thought No. 499 came at 11:41 when he tucked a hard carom off the end boards inside the near post from behind the goal line. But the goal was wiped away when Chicago's challenge was successful as video showed San Jose forward Mikkel Boedker was offside on Marleau's entry.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Blackhawks' fourth-line center Dennis Rasmussen scored his fourth goal of the year. His perfect wrist shot from the top of the right circle eluded back-skating Sharks defenseman Paul Martin and struck the iron where the crossbar meets the far goal post at 16:53.
The Sharks outshot the Blackhawks 10-7 during a scoreless first period that featured stretches of wide-open play with the teams trading chances.
San Jose had two power plays -- one early and the other late -- but managed only one shot during the combined four minutes. Chicago managed three shots on its one power play, but Jones came up big to keep the visitors from converting.
Chicago forwards Marian Hossa and Ryan Hartman battled for a loose puck in the crease behind the San Jose defense, but Jones managed to cover midway through Ryan Carpenter's trip of Rasmussen.
Jones stopped Hartman on a breakaway four minutes after the opening faceoff, deflecting a backhand shot with his blocker after Burns had a shot blocked at the Chicago line.
Patrick Kane missed on a chance to fill an open net at 7:45 when he couldn't make contact with a bouncing puck on a rebound left by Jones.
NOTES: Chicago displayed new forward lines at the outset of the first game coming out of the break. Top center Jonathan Toews skated with new wingers, including LW Nick Schmaltz and RW Marian Hossa. While the No. 2 line remained in tact -- LW Artemi Panarin-C Artem Anisimov-RW Patrick Kane -- the third line featured rookies LW Ryan Hartman, C Tanner Kero and RW Vinnie Hinostroza. The fourth line included LW Andrew Desjardins-C Dennis Rasmussen-RW Richard Panik. ... San Jose continued to play without injured LW Joonas Donskoi (shoulder) and D Dylan DeMelo (broken hand). C Micheal Haley came off injured reserve but was a healthy scratch along with D Tim Heed. ... The Blackhawks, who opened a six-game post-All-Star break road trip, visit the Coyotes on Thursday. ... San Jose next plays at Vancouver on Thursday, its first of five meetings in the final 32 games of the season. ... Chicago's C Marcus Kruger (illness) and D Michal Rozsival (lower body) were out, and D Michal Kempny and RW Jordin Tootoo did not dress.