The Chicago Blackhawks Sam Lafferty (24) celebrates scoring a second period goal with teammate Jason Dickinson (17). After losing their first two games of the season the Blackhawks get in the win column against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Oct 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, October 15, 2022

For the second straight night, San Jose took an early lead but was unable to hold it, as the Sharks dropped a 5-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday at SAP Center.

It was the Blackhawks’ first win of the season.

Nico Sturm scored his first goal of the season with the assists going to Erik Karlsson and Mario Ferraro at 13:58 of the first period. Just over five minutes later, Karlsson scored his first goal from Logan Couture and Steven Lorentz, giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.

Chicago came back with three goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. Jonathan Toews put the Blackhawks on the board at 7:21, with Sam Lafferty scoring a short-handed tally for the equalizer a minute later. Lafferty scored another short-handed goal at 10:35 to put the Blackhawks ahead to stay.

Taylor Raddysh and Jason Dickinson each scored their first goals of the season in the third period for Chicago (1-2).

Things got heated at the end of the second period, when the Blackhawks’ Jarred Tinordi and San Jose’s Jonah Gadjovich received concurrent minors for roughing, and Chicago’s Andreas Athanasiou received a 10-minute misconduct.

Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen surrendered all five Chicago goals, making 20 saves before leaving in favor of a sixth attacker in the final minute. Petr Mrazek faced 26 San Jose shots, stopping 24.

The Sharks (0-4) hit the road for the next four games. Their next contest is Tuesday at the New York Islanders, followed by a Thursday game with the New York Rangers. San Jose travels to New Jersey next Saturday and to Philadelphia next Sunday.