On the Eve of Thanksgiving, the Sharks (11-8-1) won their second straight game by topping the Blackhawks (13-6-2) after an impressive performance from Martin Jones.

After getting a 4-on-3 opportunity halfway through the first, the Sharks’ top power play unit quickly took advantage. Receiving a one time pass from Joe Pavelski, Couture buried a beautiful shot past Crawford, giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Not long after, Chicago had their first power play chance. Diving to keep the puck in the zone, Brent Seabrook let it get by him. Joel Ward would get a prime scoring chance and a breakaway from it, where he would slip the puck past Crawford for a 2-0 Sharks lead.

The Sharks poured on chance after chance for most of the second period, until the Blackhawks broke the streak. Artemi Panarin’s slap shot beat Jones blocker side to cut the Sharks’ lead in half. That would set up an entertaining finish to an already exciting game.

It was a goaltender showdown in the third, and Martin Jones would act as a brick wall for the Sharks. The Blackhawks crawled their way back into the game, at one point gaining edge in the shot count and having a wide variety of scoring chances in the third. The Sharks missed a couple of key power play chances down the wire, but Jones’ effort was enough for a Sharks win.

Notes

• Dylan Demelo, who was a healthy scratch in all the previous games so far this year, made his season debut tonight. He was filling in for David Schlemko, who was a late scratch after feeling “under the weather”. He looked ok, putting 3 shots on goal and posting 13:26 of ice time.
• Logan Couture continues to stay hot. That’s now 3 goals in his past 4 games.
• For the second straight game, the Sharks scored a shorthanded goal. Chris Tierney scored one last game and Joel Ward scored tonight. They had no shorthanded goals this season prior to Monday’s game against the Devils.
• These two teams matched up really well. Many would consider the Sharks and Blackhawks two of the top teams in the Western Conference, and the high paced energy and exciting action showed tonight. Maybe a potential playoff matchup?

Fear The Fin Three Stars

1. Martin Jones
2. Joel Ward
3. Corey Crawford

The Sharks are off for Thanksgiving but return Friday afternoon to take on the Islanders at SAP Center.