Sharks continue playoff push with win over Blackhawks

William Eklund scored once and added an assist to pace the host San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

Kiefer Sherwood and Will Smith also scored for the Sharks (37-32-7, 81 points), who have won five of six games and remain two points out of a playoff spot following the conclusion of Predators-Kings.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves, including a handful of clutch stops in the final minute while the Blackhawks pushed for the equalizer.

San Jose is attempting to advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

Frank Nazar collected one goal and one assist while Ryan Donato tallied for the Blackhawks, who have one win in seven games.

Goalie Spencer Knight stopped 20 shots.

Chicago (28-36-14, 70 points), which has been eliminated from playoff contention, sits 31st overall in the league standings, ahead of only the Vancouver Canucks.

Looking to build on a victory last outing, the Blackhawks received an early boost when Donato opened the scoring at 9:01 of the first period, slipping home a rebound chance just after a Chicago power play expired.

With his assist on the tally, Chicago rising star Connor Bedard collected his 200th career point.

Eklund tied the clash by first stripping a Chicago player of the puck inside his own blueline, springing himself for a breakaway and converting a shot at 6:57 of the second period.

Sherwood put the Sharks ahead with an on-the-mark one-timer from the top of the right circle set up by Eklund at 14:55 of the middle frame.

Smith extended San Jose's edge with a tap-in tally set up by a seeing-eye pass from Collin Graf at 3:28 of the third period.

Nazar's power-play goal, a rocket of a one-timer from the left face-off dot, made it a one-goal game three minutes later, but the visitors could not pull even.