CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks made NHL history Friday with their 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, becoming the first team to record at least one point in 17 successive games to start a season. Chicago rookie Brandon Saad scored a shorthanded goal to break a 1-1 tie early in the third period, blasting the puck past goaltender Antti Niemi. “It was a huge goal for us,” Saad said. “I just took him wide and tried to get a shot off and luckily I beat him to the glove side. “It's nice to make history,” Saad added. “Our group has a great year so far so we don't expect anything less.” The Blackhawks improved to 14-0-3 and surpassed the record set by the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks when they completed their first 16 games of the season without a loss in regulation. The Ducks went on to win the Stanley Cup that season. Chicago had matched the Ducks' run Tuesday with a shootout victory over Vancouver. During their streak the Blackhawks have won 10 games in regulation. They have won twice in overtime and twice in shootouts, and lost three games in shootouts. Viktor Stalberg had scored an equalizer for Chicago late in the second period, and goaltender Ray Emery made 26 saves for his seventh win in as many starts this season. “It's a great feeling,” Stalberg said. “We've had a great run here. We don't want to stop now. Tonight maybe wasn't our best game, but we're finding a way to win.” Canucks 1, Predators 0: Dale Weise broke a scoreless tie at 9:14 of the third period and Roberto Luongo made 23 saves for the shutout and Vancouver defeated Nashville. The Canucks have won consecutive games on their four-game road trip after losing three straight. Nashville has lost three of its past four. With the game still scoreless in the third period, Maxim Lapierre had the puck behind the Nashville goal line and carried it up to the right circle. He then spun and sent a shot toward Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne. Rinne kicked the puck away with his right pad, but Weise was there to put away the rebound for his first goal of the season. Penguins 3, Panthers 1: Matt Niskanen and Dustin Jeffrey scored third-period goals to send Pittsburgh over Florida. Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves in his first NHL start this season. Niskanen took a pass from Kris Letang and scored on a one-timer from the left side at 7:49. Jeffrey then scored his first goal since Feb. 18, 2012, when he redirected a shot from Matt Cooke at 15:15 to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead. Chris Kunitz also scored for the Penguins and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves in his first start in five days. — Agencies
