Nico Sturm scored late in the first period and Mackenzie Blackwood made 44 saves as the San Jose Sharks beat the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Sunday night.
Sturm scored his third goal of the season when his backhand caromed off New Jersey’s Timo Meier and past Devils netminder Jake Allen with less than four minutes to play in the opening period. Carl Grundstrom and Henry Thrun assisted.
Blackwood, who played five seasons for the Devils before he was traded to the Sharks in June 2023, recorded the 11th shutout of his career in his first game as a visiting netminder at Prudential Center.
The Sharks came into the game with a 1-5-1 road record. Their victory Sunday was their first road win in regulation.
BLACKHAWKS 2, WILD 1 (OT): Philipp Kurashev’s goal at 1:48 of overtime lifted Chicago over Minnesota, snapping a two-game slide.
Kurashev ripped a shot from left wing that sailed past Filip Gustavsson’s glove.
Petr Mrazek finished with 32 saves to help the Blackhawks end a 12-game losing streak against the Wild. Chicago hadn’t beaten Minnesota since Dec. 15, 2019.
Matt Boldy scored with 4:31 left in the third period to tie it at 1 on Minnesota’s 32nd shot of the game.
Jason Dickinson scored in the first. Mrazek made several close-in, rapid-fire stops in the third as the Wild outshot Chicago 19-4.