Pro hockey

Hawks earn point in 21st consecutive game

2013-03-01T22:45:00Z 2013-03-01T23:23:07Z Hawks earn point in 21st consecutive gameThe Associated Press The Associated Press
March 01, 2013 10:45 pm  • 

CHICAGO | Brent Seabrook scored on a 2-on-1 break at 3:23 of overtime and the Blackhawks extended their NHL-record, season-opening point streak to 21 games with a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Jonathan Toews carried the puck down left wing and dished a cross-ice pass to Seabrook, who fired in a shot from the right circle before goalie Steve Mason could slide across the crease.

Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell scored 59 seconds apart late in the second period, and Viktor Stalberg also connected in regulation for Chicago (18-0-3), which won its eighth straight overall and has earned 39 out of a possible 42 points this season.

Ray Emery made 19 saves for the win.

Ryan Johansen scored with 7:37 left in regulation to tie it at 3 for Columbus, snapping his 37-game goal drought. Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov also had goals for injury-depleted Columbus (5-12-4), which has a league-low 14 points.

Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov also had goals for injury-depleted Columbus (5-12-4), which has a league-low 14 points.

The Blackhawks posted their 10th consecutive win against the Blue Jackets, dating to Feb. 18, 2011. Chicago also has a point in its last 26 regular-season games since a regulation loss on March 25, 2012, to Nashville.

Mason stopped 31 shots as he faced the Blackhawks for the second time in less than a week. He made 26 saves in a 1-0 loss to Chicago on Sunday.

Anisimov scored in his first game after he missed three because of an upper-body injury. He was hurt in Detroit on Feb. 21 when his head struck the ice.

Columbus has lost seven of eight, with all but one of the defeats by one goal.

Emery relieved Corey Crawford after the first period in St. Louis on Thursday as the two combined to shut out the Blues 3-0. Crawford was forced out by an upper-body injury.

Crawford was back on the bench Friday, serving as Emery's backup.

The Blue Jackets were again without centers Brandon Dubinsky (knee) and Derick Brassard (upper body) and defensemen Jack Johnson (shoulder), James Wisniewski (broken foot) and John Moore (upper body). Moore was injured Friday during Columbus' morning skate.

Prospal gave the Blue Jackets the lead just 31 seconds into the game.

Emery made a glove save on Derek Dorsett's drive from the right circle, but knocked the rebound into the slot. Prospal swooped in and fired the loose puck into the open net before Emery could react.

Stalberg tied it with 3:51 left in the first when he scored a power-play goal from the edge of the crease. Battling in a scrum, Stalberg converted a rebound of Brandon Saad's shot.

Anisimov put Columbus back ahead with 7:18 left in the second on a screened shot from the right wing. His shot appeared to glance off of Chicago's Daniel Carcillo before getting past Emery.

Mason came up with several tough saves, but was fooled when Sharp tied it at 2 with 2:40 left in the period. Sharp cut down the left wing and shoveled a backhanded shot from a sharp angle that struck Mason's blocker and slipped through.

Less than a minute later, Bickell put Chicago ahead 3-2 on a 2-on-1 with Stalberg.

Columbus' Mark Letestu and Matt Calvert, and Chicago's Jamal Mayers all fired shots off the post early in the third.

Johansen scored his first goal since Jan. 24, 2012, with 7:37 to make it 3-3. Following a failed clearing attempt, Johansen took a pass from Nick Foligno, broke in alone and slipped a backhander past Emery.

Mason made two point-blank blocker saves on Stalberg with 2:55 left to keep the game tied.

NOTES: Stalberg has 11 goals and two assists in 15 games against Columbus in his career. . Blackhawks C Dave Bolland missed his fourth game because of an upper-body injury. . The United Center crowd of 21,828 was the Blackhawks' 200th straight sellout. . Columbus recalled D Dalton Prout from Springfield of the AHL. The 22-year-old Prout played in his sixth NHL game.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Follow The Times

Facebook

on Facebook

Twitter

on Twitter

Email

Get email updates from

Email Updates

RSS

Follow via RSS

RSS Feeds

Latest Local Offers

Leep's Highway Garage
10% off 300 point inspection

10% off when you mention this ad.

Perfect Solutions Home Improvement
The Perfect Team for Your Roofing Job is Perfect Solutions. Find Out Why Now!!

When you are looking for a home improvement service, there ar…

TLC Plumbing, INC
Sump Pump and Sewer Services!

For all your sump pump and sewer service needs, contact

For those who want something truly unique we offer custom jewelry design.

Whether you already have a drawing in hand or only an idea in …

Featured Businesses

National Video

Poll

Loading…

Which team will win the Bulls-Heat series?

View Results

Newsletter Sign-Up