SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Marcus Sorensen continues to be a difference-maker in Erik Karlsson and Evander Kane's absences.
The San Jose Sharks improved to 2-0 without Karlsson and Kane on Sunday as Sorensen scored the game-winning goal in a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center.
Sorensen scored his third goal in two games at 4:27 of the third, burying a pass from Joe Thornton in the high slot. Prior to rejoining the Sharks lineup on Friday, Sorensen had missed two straight games with an injury after taking a puck to the face in Columbus on Feb. 23.
With the win, the Sharks pulled to within three points of the Calgary Flames for first place in the Pacific Division. Joonas Donskoi collected three assists in the win after going eight games without recording a point.
Melker Karlsson added an insurance goal at 8:16 of the third, becoming the 12th Sharks player to reach the 10-goal mark this season. Brent Burns picked up his 72nd point of the season on the goal and Micheal Haley earned his first point since he returned to the Sharks on Feb. 20.
Karlsson scored his second of the game into an empty net with 2:22 left on the clock. Haley snagged his second assist on the goal.
The Sharks opened the scoring at 12:16 of the first, capitalizing on an ill-timed Blackhawks line change. Tim Heed zipped the puck through the neutral zone as the Blackhawks were changing, allowing Tomas Hertl to dance around Duncan Keith and score his 29th through Cam Talbot's legs.
The Blackhawks tied the game by capitalizing on a Kevin Labanc miscue with just 27.1 seconds left in the opening frame. As the Sharks skated up ice on a 3-on-2, Labanc got his pass to Hertl poke-checked away, starting a Blackhawks rush the other way that Dylan Strome converted into a goal.
The Sharks went into the second intermission tied 2-2 after trading goals with the Blackhawks in the middle frame. Timo Meier scored his 23rd of the season at 1:38, redirecting Heed's point shot, the defenseman's second point of the night.
Erik Gustafsson tied it up at 6:40, beating Martin Jones with a 48-foot wrist shot as Chris Kunitz provided a screen in front. Jones made 28 saves, earning his 31st win of the season.
Thornton suited up for his 1,550th career game, tying Alex Delvecchio for 14th place on the NHL's all-time games played list.
The Sharks will return to action at SAP Center on Thursday, squaring off against the Montreal Canadiens in the third game of a four-game homestand.
