A fast start was just what the Chicago

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(AP) — Blackhawks needed to get out of their recent rut even if it might be too late for them to make a playoff push.Alex DeBrincat scored on a two-man advantage to start a three-goal barrage in the opening 11 minutes and then added his 40th goal of the season in the second period as the Blackhawks sent the struggling San Jose Sharks to their seventh straight loss, 5-4 on Thursday night.“We’re not accepting any fate any time soon, so it’s a big win for us to stay alive and keep that morale up and keep heading toward the end of the season in the right direction regardless of what happens in the standings,” said captain Jonathan Toews, who scored Chicago’s third goal in the opening period.The Blackhawks had lost four of five heading into the game and still trail Colorado by five points with five games remaining in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.But they managed to snap out of their slump of six straight games with two or fewer goals thanks to a big night from the 21-year DeBrincat.“When you get to see him every night, you realize how the skill set he has is pretty special,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “That release, he finds a way when he does release it Carolina Hurricanes Hats Authentic , he puts it in a good spot.”Connor Murphy and Chris Kunitz also scored, and Corey Crawford made 26 saves for Chicago.The Sharks’ longest losing streak in six years has likely cost them a chance at a Pacific Division title and could cost them home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs if they don’t reverse it soon. San Jose trails first-place Calgary by six points and is five points ahead of third-place Vegas with five games remaining.Tomas Hertl had one goal and two assists in his 400th career game. Lukas Radil, Gustav Nyquist and Timo Meier also scored for San Jose. Martin Jones made 22 saves.“There’s a lot that we’re not doing well,” Sharks forward Logan Couture said. “Obviously we’ve lost seven in a row, so, got to figure it out here. All aspects of our game. Defending, I thought we created enough opportunities tonight to win a game. But we gave up too much, as well.”The Blackhawks got off to a fast start thanks to a two-man advantage following a goaltender interference penalty on Marcus Sorensen and a high-stick call against Brent Burns. DeBrincat capitalized by knocking in his own rebound.Murphy and Toews then added even-strength goals that game Chicago a 3-0 lead less than 11 minutes into the game. The Blackhawks had gone six straight games without reaching the three-goal mark.But the Sharks erased that entire deficit and tied the game at 4 late in the second period. Hertl set up Nyquist’s power-play goal with a blind pass and scored one of his own off a feed from Joe Thornton.Couture then set up Meier alone in front after a Chicago defensive breakdown to even the score.But the Blackhawks went back ahead about two minutes later when Patrick Kane innocently sent in a backhand from the point that Kunitz deflected past Jones to make it 5-4.“I thought we did a good job battling back to 4-4 and then they get that fifth goal Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys ,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “Throw it at the net and find a way to get a stick on it. It’s one of those times now when everything that can go wrong is going wrong for us and we’ve got to fight through it.”The game tightened up in the third period and Kunitz’s goal proved to be the game-winner.NOTES: Blackhawks D Brent Seabrook committed three minor penalties that led to San Jose power plays. … Sharks F Joe Pavelski missed his fifth straight game with a lower-body injury.UP NEXTChicago: Visit Los Angeles on Saturday.San Jose: Host Vegas on Saturday. ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt is familiar with the ebbs and flows of the NHL.Schmidt and the Golden Knights continued their surge on Friday night while keeping the Anaheim Ducks in a funk.Max Pacioretty scored in his return to the Vegas lineup and the Golden Knights extended their winning streak to five games, beating the Ducks 3-2 Friday night.The Golden Knights fell behind in the second period when the Ducks scored two goals 18 seconds apart. But Vegas retook the lead with two goals in a 31-second span to improve to 6-0-2 in their last eight games.“We sure tested ourselves a few times early in the second period. But, again, we found a way to win and we’re never going to apologize for that,” said Schmidt, who scored for Vegas. “As the year goes on, you are going to have your surges and a couple times when you’re not playing that well www.officialblackhawksproshop.com , but I thought our guys, even when we’re down in the game or we’re not playing that well, we find ways to get ourselves back in.”Tomas Nosek had a goal and an assist, Marc Andre-Fleury made 25 saves, and Vegas secured the first three games of the teams’ four-game season series.Nosek tied it at 2-all at 10:15 of the second period. He reached around John Gibson and backhanded in a rebound of a shot by Brayden McNabb. Pacioretty put Vegas back in front 3-2 at 10:46.Playing for the first time since Dec. 17 and missing seven games because of an undisclosed injury, Pacioretty got behind two Ducks in transition and scored off a pass from Paul Stastny.It was the seventh time Pacioretty and Stastny have played together this season, as both have dealt with injuries. But chemistry displayed on Pacioretty’s 11th goal showed why Vegas signed Stastny as a free agent in July, traded for Pacioretty in September and signed him to a contract extension.“It’s been a start to the season that no one drew up with injuries and playing through them and sitting out for both of us Chicago Blackhawks T-Shirts Authentic ,” Pacioretty said. “To be able to come in now and feel pretty good and kind of start from scratch and put together a good win as a line is a good step.”Daniel Sprong and Carter Rowney scored for the Ducks, who dropped to 0-5-2 in their last seven games. Gibson made 39 saves.Sprong scored on the power play at 1:57 to tie the game at 1. Rowney then put the Ducks ahead 2-1 at 2:15 by catching the Golden Knights on an odd-man rush.“If we can put the good minutes we had this night, if we can put them over like more of 50, 60 minutes, we’re going to be successful,” Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm said.The Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead at 6:52 on the first period when Schmidt scored on a slap shot from the blue line through traffic during a delayed penalty. Gibson made a save and paddled the puck away during the buildup to Schmidt’s fourth goal, but the officials did not stop play.Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said he never receiver an explanation why there was not a whistle, and refused to elaborate on the sequence.“I’ve been fined once before Chicago Blackhawks Hoodies Authentic , so my wife doesn’t like me writing big checks to the league,” Carlyle said.NOTES: The Golden Knights improved to 16-0-2 when leading after two periods. . Vegas F Alex Tuch had an assist to extend his point streak to five games, with two goals and four assists in that span. . Vegas D Shea Theodore did not play because of illness.UP NEXTGolden Knights: Host New Jersey on Sunday.Ducks: Host Edmonton on Sunday.