Ryan Donato, Kevin Korchinski, and Joey Anderson ignited a remarkable surge for the Chicago Blackhawks in just 1 minute and 23 seconds during the third period, securing a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
Contributions also came from Philipp Kurashev and Connor Bedard for the Blackhawks, who have now triumphed in four of their last six matchups. Petr Mrazek stood strong in the net, tallying 24 saves throughout the game.
Reflecting on the game-changing moment, Anderson emphasized the significance of maintaining momentum. His extraordinary between-the-legs shot, sealing the Blackhawks’ rally, epitomized the team’s determination. “Those are the kind of momentum swings that are big,” Anderson remarked.
San Jose found the net twice, with goals from Ryan Carpenter and Klim Kostin, but it wasn’t enough to halt their recent struggles, marking their 13th loss in 14 games (1-11-2). Devin Cooley, making his NHL debut at 26, made an impressive 26 saves for the Sharks.
Carpenter opened the scoring for San Jose midway through the first period, capitalizing on a deep-angle rebound from Alexander Barbanov’s shot.
Kostin extended the lead with a well-placed shot from 10 feet away off a pass from Mikael Granlund.
Chicago fought back in the second period, with Kurashev redirecting Tyler Johnson’s pass to beat Cooley. From there, the Blackhawks dominated the final stretch of the game.
Donato leveled the score with a precise shot from the high slot, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. Korchinski’s goal just over a minute later deflected off San Jose’s Jacob MacDonald’s stick, swung the momentum in Chicago’s favor. Anderson’s remarkable goal, executed amidst a frantic scramble in front of the net, further solidified the Blackhawks’ lead.
Bedard sealed the victory for Chicago with an empty-netter just before the final buzzer, capping off an impressive display of resilience and determination.
Despite a valiant effort from San Jose, Cooley expressed disappointment in falling short, acknowledging the intensity of the game. “Man, that stings. The game stings,” Cooley lamented. “We were so close.”
