Three times the Blackhawks broke in alone on Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider during the opening period. Three times they came away empty.
For a while, it appeared maybe it wouldn't be the Hawks' night as they faced their archrivals Tuesday night at the United Center.
Yeah, forget that.
The Hawks found the gas pedal and roared back from a first-period deficit, saw their two-goal lead disappear in the final three minutes and then prevailed in the shootout for a 4-3 victory.
Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw scored in the shootout for the Hawks. Chris Higgins scored but Ray Emery stuffed Ryan Kesler on the Canucks' third shootout attempt.
With their 16th consecutive game to start the season without a regulation loss, the Hawks equaled the league record set by the Ducks in 2006-07. At 13-0-3, the Hawks have captured 29 of a possible 32 points.
Kevin Bieksa scored with 1 minute, 1 second remaining in the third period to force overtime after Alexander Elder had pulled the Canucks within 3-2 with 2:42 left.
Marian Hossa had two goals and Patrick Sharp also scored to provide the offense for the Hawks.
The only downside for the Hawks was a third-period injury to Hossa, who took a forearm to the back of the head from the Canucks' Yannik Hansen and did not return. Hossa suffered a serious concussion during the playoffs last season and was not cleared to play until mid-November. The Hawks already were without defenseman Brent Seabrook, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Both goalies had to be on their games early as some suspect defense led to a flurry of breakaways — five in a span of 7 minutes, 41 seconds.
First, Emery got his right pad on Daniel Sedin's shot, and Schneider matched that and did one better while the Canucks were on the power play. Hossa raced in on a short-handed breakaway attempt but was denied by Schneider. During the same penalty, Dave Bolland's backhander misfired.
Next up was Sharp, but his shot while racing in on Schneider sailed wide. Emery again denied Sedin on the final breakaway during the sequence.
Not long after the spectacular saves, Emery let one in he'd like to have back. Sedin's innocent-looking backhander from a wide angle eluded the goalie, and the Canucks were on the board.
Early in the second, the Hawks tied it when Sharp sent a laser beam from the left circle that slid through Schneider's pads. It marked the second consecutive game the veteran winger found the net after a 10-game goal-less skid.
Mired in his own goal-less skid entering the game was Hossa, who hadn't scored in six games. That lasted until the second, when Hossa twice lit the lamp. The first came on the power play when the veteran fired a rocket from the high slot that sailed past Schneider, who was screened by Andrew Shaw.
ckuc@tribune.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
Blackhawks make history in shootout win over Canucks
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Blackhawks make history in shootout win over Canucks
