Chicago's Sharp scores game-winner in shootout

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Patrick Sharp finds fatherhood rewarding on and off the ice.

The Chicago Blackhawks left wing scored the winning goal in a shootout Tuesday night as the Blackhawks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 at PNC Arena to win their third game in a row.

Two nights earlier, he became a father for the second time when his daughter Sadie was born.

"It's nice to score the game-winner," Sharp said. "It's nice to have two daughters and game-winners right after that."

Sharp also posted a game-winning goal nearly two years ago on the same night his first daughter was born.

He'll return to Chicago with gifts for his younger child.

"I kept the shootout puck," he said. "That's for my daughter. She gets the stick, too. ... spoiling her already."

The Hurricanes wiped out a two-goal, third-period deficit to force overtime.

Sharp and Marian Hossa scored first-period goals for the Blackhawks, who were playing only their second road game. It was Sharp's 200th career goal in 601 games.

Sharp said he had to struggle to find the right concentration level considering everything going on with his family.

"Hopefully there's a lot more than 200," Sharp said. "Now is not the time to think about that. My head wasn't really in the game. It was a special time for our family. I felt a little guilty taking off like that."

Ron Hainsey's blast from inside the blue line tied the game with 7:27 to play in regulation, accounting for his first goal with the Hurricanes. The defenseman had gone 121 games without a goal.

Alexander Semin opened Carolina's scoring earlier in the third period.

"That's a big point for us," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "Just how we played. We bounced back. The energy was there. No one panicked."

In the shootout, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews failed to convert for Chicago before Sharp took his turn.

Carolina's Nathan Gerbe, Semin and Jeff Skinner all were stopped.

The Blackhawks have played five consecutive one-goal games.

"I will take a win on the road any day of the week," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "Our third periods have not been as effective as we would like, but that's something we can talk about."

The Blackhawks lost their previous seven games in this building. Chicago's only other victory in North Carolina came Jan. 14, 1998, when the Hurricanes played at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford stopped 32 shots.

Cam Ward made 34 saves, including three in the opening minute of overtime, for Carolina.

The Hurricanes came up empty on an overtime power play, then peppered the goal in the final 15 seconds. Chicago left wing Bryan Bickell was in the penalty box for hooking midway through the extra session. At one point, only two Chicago skaters had sticks during the penalty kill.

That was a far different scene from the start of the game, when the Blackhawks were the aggressors.

"They came at us in the first period," Muller said. "(We) hit the restart button."

Sharp's goal came on a first-period breakaway.

Hossa notched his first point since opening night when he tallied at 10:18 of the first period.

"It's definitely nice to get the puck in the net," Hossa said. "I need to work on my timing."

The Hurricanes used their timeout after the Blackhawks needed only slightly more than 10 minutes to grab a 2-0 lead.

Carolina posted 11 of the first 13 shots in the second period but didn't dent the scoreboard.

Semin deposited a rebound off Eric Staal's shot 3:54 into the third period to close the gap.

The Hurricanes were winless in the three-game homestand, going 0-1-2.

Carolina encountered a rare glitch in its last 10 outings (7-1-2) against a team holding the title of defending Stanley Cup champion.

NOTES: G Justin Peters was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League to serve as Carolina's backup. G Anton Khudobin, who left in the second period of Sunday's game against Phoenix with a lower-body injury, was placed on injured reserve. ... The Blackhawks have not listed injuries causing players to miss games through six games. ... Chicago has outshot its opponents by a combined 80-44 in the first period this season after having a 15-5 edge on Carolina. ... The Hurricanes won't play at home again until Oct. 28, with four road games -- beginning Thursday night at Toronto -- during that stretch. Carolina is normally without home games during the North Carolina State Fair, which is held virtually across the street from the arena. ... The Blackhawks are back home for Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Blues.