Marleau scores in milestone game as Sharks defeat Blackhawks

[November 06, 2019]  Patrick Marleau scored a goal while becoming the sixth player in NHL history to play in 800 consecutive games and Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl both had a goal and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Evander Kane also scored a goal and Martin Jones finished with 19 saves for San Jose, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Barclay Goodrow added two assists.

Marleau joined Doug Jarvis (964), Garry Unger (914), Steve Larmer (884), Andrew Cogliano (830) and Keith Yandle (811) as the only players in NHL history to play in 800 consecutive games.

Brandon Saad and Duncan Keith scored goals for Chicago, which wrapped up its four-game road trip with a 1-2-1 record. Robin Lehner finished with 28 saves.

Marleau, who missed part of the first period getting a nasty gash on his chin stitched up, returned to give San Jose a 1-0 lead at the 1:39 mark of the second period. Meier fired a spinning shot from the high slot that caromed in off the skate of Marleau stationed in front of the left post.

It was the third goal of the season for Marleau, all of which have come against the Blackhawks. It was also the 554th goal of his career, two behind Johnny Bucyk (556) for 27th place on the NHL's all-time list.

The Sharks, who outshot Chicago, 23-3, over the first 31 minutes, increased their lead to 2-0 later in the period on a short-handed goal by Kane, who raced down an outlet pass off the boards by Brenden Dillon and beat Lehner five-hole for his ninth goal of the season.

Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates after scoring a goal against Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner (40) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jones wasn't really tested until early in the third period, when he made a glove save on a Dominik Kubalik breakaway chance. Hertl then made it 3-0 when he whipped a wrist shot from the edge of the left circle past Lehner for his fifth goal of the season.

Saad made it to 3-1 when he redirected a Jonathan Toews shot with 3:02 to go and the Blackhawks closed to within a goal 68 seconds later when Keith blasted in his first goal of the season after Lehner was pulled for an extra attacker. But Meier sealed the win for San Jose 28 seconds later with an empty-netter.

--Field Level Media

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