Will Smith scored his first NHL goal and added his second tally to lead the host San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
Alex Wennberg also scored a goal for the Sharks, who won three straight games for the first time since the middle of last season. Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves, including all 13 shots he faced in the third period as the Blackhawks controlled play and pressed frantically for the equalizer.
Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi scored two goals for the Blackhawks, who lost five of six games. Petr Mrazek stopped 26 shots and Connor Murphy collected two assists.
With his team trailing 2-1, Wennberg tied the game 90 seconds into the second half. Mrazek stopped Fabian Zetterlund’s long shot, but was unable to cover the loose ball before Wennberg slotted it home for his second tally of the season.
Smith’s second goal of the game, just after midway through the second period, gave the Sharks their second lead of the night and ultimately held on to win the game. On the power play, he fired a long wrist shot into the top corner.
The Blackhawks controlled the play throughout the third period but were unable to solve Blackwood again. Chicago even had fun on the power play in the final 79 seconds.
The rollercoaster ride started early. Smith, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his ninth NHL game a memorable one when he opened the scoring at the 6:52 mark. After receiving a pass in the left circle, Smith lofted a shot into the top corner for the memorable mark.
Donato tied the game 37 seconds later. He pounced on a loose ball in the slot and hit a short-sided shot for his sixth goal of the season and fourth in a three-game flurry.
Bertuzzi put the Blackhawks up 2-1 just 50 seconds later by converting a rebound chance while standing on the doorstep.
– Media at the field level