CHICAGO — J.F. Berube made the most of his first NHL start since Feb. 19, 2017, stopping 42 shots to lift the Chicago Blackhawks past a Sharks squad seeking redemption after a 7-1 shellacking in Nashville Thursday.
Berube received his first start of the season Friday because all-star netminder Corey Crawford has been sidelined since Dec. 23 with a head injury, a key reason why the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup champions are 12 points out of a playoff spot.
By losing, the Sharks (33-21-8) failed build on their one-point cushion over the idle Anaheim Ducks for second place in the Pacific Division.