Blackhawks beat sliding Sharks

Dave Bolland and Niklas Hjalmarsson also scored for the Blackhawks, who remain the league's only team without a regulation loss. Jamal Mayers had two assists and backup Ray Emery made 27 saves for his fourth win in four starts this season.

Chicago's first home win since Jan. 27 against Detroit had a little bit of everything, including a rare fight between captains Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks and Joe Thornton of the Sharks.

Toews skated up to Thornton with about 4½ minutes left in the first period, jabbed him with his stick and then dropped his gloves. The star centers tangled up for a minute before Thornton dragged Toews to the ice and the linesmen skated in.

San Jose has dropped seven in a row after getting off to a 7-0 start. Three of the losses have come in a shootout or overtime.

Tim Kennedy scored his first goal of the season for the Sharks (7-4-3), and Antti Niemi had 33 saves against his former team.

Each of the Blackhawks' first three goals came on rebounds, including an ugly gaffe by Niemi in the second period.

Bolland skated toward the goal in the final minute of the first and let loose with a low shot that Niemi stopped with his right leg. But the deflection trickled off Niemi's left arm and Bolland tucked it into the open net while the veteran goalie frantically tried to find the puck.

The Blackhawks increased the lead to 2-0 at 3:05 in the second, taking advantage when Niemi whiffed on Kruger's bouncing shot from just inside center ice. The puck bounced off the inside of the right post and slid across to the left side, where Kruger shot it into the open net as Niemi turned around in a full circle.

After Kennedy got the Sharks within one, Jason Demers was sent off for roughing against Patrick Sharp and the Blackhawks made the most of the power-play opportunity. Shaw's first rebound try was stopped by Niemi, but his second attempt popped up and went in off the goalie's back to make it 3-1 with 5:20 left in the period.