Will Smith scores twice for first NHL goals, Sharks beat Blackhawks 3-2 for third straight win
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Will Smith scored twice for his first NHL goals, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Thursday.
The Sharks have won three straight after going winless in their first nine games, while the Blackhawks have dropped five of their last six.
On a power play midway through the second period, Smith – the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft – scored the winning goal with a wrist shot off the crossbar.
Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi scored 50 seconds apart in the first period to give Chicago a 2-1 lead, with Connor Murphy assisting on both goals. Donato's goal was 37 seconds after Smith opened the scoring.
Alexander Wennberg tied the game at 2 early in the second for San Jose.
Mackenzie Blackwood and Petr Mrazek each stopped 26 shots, but Blackwood will be credited with the win.
Takeaways
Blackhawks: Donato scored his team-leading sixth goal for his fourth in the last three games.
San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) reaches for the puck in front of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman TJ Brodie (78) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
Sharks: San Jose had just one three-game win streak last season, when it finished with the worst record in the league.
Key moment
Blackwood and the Sharks killed a late 6-on-4 push from the Blackhawks to hold on to the lead after Chicago pulled the goalie and Fabian Zetterlund committed a late penalty with 1:19 to play.
Key stat
Smith became the youngest U.S.-born skater to score a goal with the Sharks. The 19-year-old had gone without a point through his first eight NHL games before scoring twice.
Up Next
The Blackhawks visit the Kings on Saturday, while the Sharks host the Canucks the same day.
