News » c looked to bend the ball beyond Christian Walton

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks kick-started their league-leading offence by holding on to the puck -- and shutting down New Jersey defensively. Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected to lead Chicago to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Monday night. Stephen Gionta and Michael Ryder had goals for the Devils, whose season-high four-game point streak (3-0-1) ended. New Jersey was lucky to get those two scores -- off a failed clearing attempt and a close-in turnover -- as Chicago outshot the Devils 37-12, and controlled the puck and the play. "I thought it was one of our better games all year as far as puck possession, directing plays," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we did everything we were looking to do in the game. I liked their energy, I liked their thought process, our purpose." The Blackhawks spent little time in their zone. With only a couple of exceptions, they moved the puck to their forwards efficiently and left the Devils. Sharp, who recorded his third two-goal game this season, was one of the beneficiaries. "It starts with the defence making great plays in the D-zone," he said. "Weve had great forwards here for a while that want the puck and want to score goals." The 25-year-old Kane has been better offensively this season, his seventh in the NHL. He has points in 12 straight games, matching his career high -- set earlier this season and just before his run. Kane has seven goals and 14 assists in his streak, and at least one point in all but one of his past 25 games, helping him climb into second in the NHL scoring race behind Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby. "If we can play defence like that every night, I think youre going to see more scores like that," he said. Bickells goal was his first since Nov. 10, but he missed 14 of Chicagos 19 games during that span with a knee injury. Chicago rookie Antti Raanta blocked 10 shots in his seventh straight start -- all since Blackhawks top goalie Corey Crawford suffered a lower-body injury on Dec. 8. He faced the fewest shots against Chicago in a game this season. New Jerseys Cory Schneider made 32 saves. "Theyre a relentless team," Schneider said. "They dont give up on the puck and theyre always trying to force turnovers. They didnt take their foot off the gas. "We just didnt play at the level we need to play to compete." The Blackhawks outshot the Devils 12-2 in the first period and led 1-0 after 20 minutes. Sharp opened the scoring at 12:59 when he snapped off a 40-foot shot from the left boards. New Jersey defenceman Mark Fayne reached toward the puck with his right glove, but deflected it past Schneider. One of the Devils two shots in the period was a dump-in from their own blue line while killing a penalty. Gionta tied it at 1 at 5:37 of the second on a deflection at the doorstep and the Devils fourth shot on goal. Following a failed Chicago clearing attempt on the left boards, Jon Merrill fired from the top of the slot. The puck struck the skate of Blackhawks defenceman Michael Kostka, then ticked in off Giontas stick. Kane put Chicago back ahead 2-1 just over 2 minutes later when he drove to the net and slammed in a rebound of Leddys shot. Schneider made a glove save on Leddys drive from the slot, but it dropped to the ice and Kane plowed over Devils defenceman Marek Zidlicky to score. Bickell made it 3-1 with 7:33 left in the period, connecting on a rising, screened shot from the right circle after taking a feed from Brandon Saad. Ryder swept in a backhand 59 seconds into the third to cut it 3-2 after he picked off a clearing pass by Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook. The Devils managed to come back from a two-goal deficit against Washington on Saturday to win in overtime. The Blackhawks didnt let that happen. "Tonight we gave away way too much space and way too much opportunity to move the puck as well," Ryder said. "Were pretty stingy on defence usually, and tonight we got away from that and tonight it shows on the scoreboard." Set up by Marian Hossas stretch pass, Sharp scored his second goal on a breakaway at 5:54 to extend Chicagos lead to 4-2. He took the feed at centre ice, streaked in alone and fired a low shot under Schneiders glove. Leddys power-play goal, on a drive from the top of the circle with 7:01 left, completed the scoring. Sharp narrowly missed a hat trick, firing the puck off the post with 39 seconds left. NOTES: Crawford has resumed skating and is expected to start practicing after Christmas, according to Quenneville. ... Giontas goal was his second in four games after not scoring in his first 20 games this season. ... Devils RW and leading scorer Jaromir Jagr was held without a point for the first time in seven games. ... New Jersey RW Damien Brunner missed his second game with a lower-body injury and C Andrei Loktionov sat out his second with an illness. ... Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, who used to work in the Blackhawks front office, attended the game. Tony Romo Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Charles Haley Jersey . Sources tell TSN that union executives travelled to select CFL cities Monday to open dialogue with players and answer questions. After the tentative deal was reached Saturday night, several players posted messages of frustration and disappointment on social media - and that carried over into Sunday on both the web and the field. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Daryl-Johnston-Jersey/ .com) - Its fair to call Mike McCarthy one of the best coaches in the NFL but its also more than objective to point out that the veteran mentor bookended the Green Bay Packers season with two, truly awful game plans in Seattle. Roger Staubach Cowboys Jersey .Y. -- Kristen Gillman rallied to win the U. Deion Sanders Jersey . The Thornhill, Ont., native, who is ranked 11th in the world, said hed hoped he would be ready when Canada begins its World Group first-round tie against Japan in Tokyo on Friday.Tammy Abraham scored twice as England U21s finished their European Championship qualification campaign with a 5-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina at Walsall’s Bankss Stadium. Aidy Boothroyds side, who had already qualified for next summers tournament in Poland, opened the scoring in the 14th minute through John Swift, before Abraham - making his first start - added a second four minutes later.The hosts extended their advantage immediately after the break with Josh Onomah (49) scoring on debut and the lively Duncan Watmore (62) getting himself on the scoresheet after being played in on goal by man of the match Jack Grealish. In-form Bristol City striker Abraham added his second of the afternoon in the 68th minute to round off an impressive performance from Boothroyds men, who remained unbeaten throughout the qualification campaign. Watmore (right) celebrates with Onomah and team mates With England already qualified for the European Championships, Boothroyd, who is in interim charge of the U21s with Gareth Southgate leading the senior team, took the opportunity to rotate his squad, making nine changes from the side that won 1-0 in Kazakhstan to seal qualification last Thursday.And the changes did not seem to affect the side, who were ahead inside 15 minutes with Swift firing the ball past Keenan Piric and into the top corner from the edge of the area.The hosts were in full control and they doubled their advantage four minutes later when Onomah forced Piric into a smart save but Abraham pounced on the rebound to score his first goal for the U21s.dddddddddddd Abraham celebrates with Josh Onomah Bosnia-Herzegovina, who finished bottom of Group 9, were firmly on the back foot and Watmore had two opportunities in quick succession to get on the scoresheet, firing over in the 31st minute before being denied by Piric.The visitors barely threatened but they nearly pulled a goal back just before the break when Armin Cerimagic looked to bend the ball beyond Christian Walton, but the goalkeeper managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.Englands dominance continued after the break and they added a four fourth four minutes after the restart and it was Onomah, who fired into the bottom corner to score his first goal for the U21s.Sunderland striker Watmore again went close in the 55th minute and he finally got on the scoresheet seven minutes later, latching onto Grealishs through ball before calmly stroking the ball into the bottom corner. Sunderland striker Duncan Watmore capped an impressive performance with a goal Watmore turned provider in the 68th minute, threading the ball through to Abraham, who produced a brilliant chipped finish to score his second of the afternoon and round off an extremely impressive performance from Boothroyds side.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! ' ' '