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CHICAGO -- A night after giving up seven goals, the Chicago Blackhawks rebounded with an improved defensive effort. Patrick Sharp scored two goals, including one on a third-period penalty shot, and Kris Versteeg had a goal and an assist to lead Chicago to a 5-1 win over San Jose in a matchup of two of the Western Conferences top teams on Sunday night. Jonathan Toews and rookie Brandon Pirri also scored for the Blackhawks, who lost 7-2 in Nashville on Saturday, their most lopsided this season. "Tonight was back-and-forth, trading chances, but at the same time, theres a lot of individual battles that we were on top of," Sharp said. Chicago limited road-weary San Jose to a handful of prime scoring opportunities before pulling away with three goals in the third period. "We werent happy with the last game, obviously," said Chicago goalie Corey Crawford, who finished with 23 saves. "Tonight was one of our better efforts all around, defensively, from everyone in this room. "(San Jose) came out strong, but throughout the game, we had a little bit more legs than them. We opened up the game at the end there." Versteeg scored his first goal with the Blackhawks in his first home game since being reacquired in trade from Florida on Thursday. A member of Chicagos 2010 Stanley Cup-winning team, he joined the Blackhawks Saturday in Nashville. "It was emotional, obviously, coming back," Versteeg said. "Last night wasnt definitely the way I saw coming back in my head, but tonight was very exciting. The guys put in a big effort." Crawford and San Joses Antti Niemi, the goalies who backstopped the Blackhawks to their two recent Stanley Cup titles, opposed each other. Crawford, in nets for Chicagos Cup run last season, allowed only a second-period goal to San Joses Joe Pavelski on a shot he caught, but then misplayed. Niemi, who helped lead the 2010 Blackhawks to the championship, stopped 22 as he faced his former team for the 12th time. Niemi is 5-6-1 against the Blackhawks. The Sharks havent won in Chicago since Dec. 3, 2010, Niemis first game against his old club. Theyre 0-5-1 at the United Center since then. And Niemi didnt get a lot of help in this one, as the Blackhawks created chances and pounced on San Jose turnovers. "We lacked a lot of energy that was needed to play in this game," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "When you dont have energy, you better be sharp mentally and we may have been poorer in that area. "There are a lot of teams that play against the Blackhawks and Im sure the coaches are telling them the same thing: That turnovers kill you," McLellan added. "Their counter-punch is incredible and we learned that lesson again. The Sharks played the final contest of a five-game road trip, finishing at 3-1-1 on a zigzagging swing with four contests in Western Canada and a finale in Chicago. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, embark on a seven-game "circus trip" Tuesday at Colorado. They dont return to the United Center until Dec. 3 against Dallas. Chicago started its solid send-off in the first period when Pirri scored the only goal of a crisply played frame with 3:26 left. Pirri, who led the AHL in points last year with 75 points, has goals in three straight games and four in his past six. Patrick Kane went down the right wing into the San Jose zone, backing in Sharks defenceman Scott Hannan to the circle. Kanes shot deflected off Hannan and across the crease to the left side of the net, where Pirri buried the loose puck. Pavelski tied it at 8:16 of the second on a 30-foot shot from the slot. Crawford picked Pavelskis shot out of the air with his glove, but when he lowered it to his side, the puck rolled out and trickled across the goal line. Sharp put Chicago back ahead at 2-1 just under 4 minutes later on a one-time shot from the left circle. He ripped the puck past Niemi after taking a pinpoint cross-ice feed from Marcus Kruger. Toews extended it to 3-1 at 3:39 of the third with his team-leading 10th goal by converting a rebound of his own shot. Niemi stopped Toews first attempt after the Chicago captain skated out of the right corner, but the rebound dropped inches from the goal line. Toews skated around a scrum at the edge of the crease and tucked in the loose puck. With Niemi down on the ice and out of the net, Versteeg converted a rebound of Brandons Saad shot with 4:50 left in the third to make it 4-1. Sharp was awarded the penalty shot with 1:11 left after being pulled down by Marc-Edouard Vlasic on a breakaway. He fired high over Niemi score on a penalty shot for the first time in five chances with Chicago NOTES: The Blackhawks placed G Nikolai Khabibulin on injured reserve with a lower-body injury suffered in Saturdays 7-2 loss in Nashville. Chicago called up rookie Antti Raanta from Rockford of the AHL to back up Crawford. Raanta was signed as a free agent from Finland last summer and was 7-5-0 with a 2.83 goals-against average in 14 games with Rockford. ... Chicago RW Marian Hossa missed his second game with a lower-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville hopes Hossa will be able to play Tuesday in Colorado. Carlos Gonzalez Jersey . It led to his downfall on Tuesday. The Major League Soccer club fired Rennie after a second straight up-and-down season that saw the Whitecaps start strong before limping across the finish line. Chris Iannetta Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. http://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-bryan-shaw-jersey . After Mariota was pushed around by Stanford on Thursday, finishing 20/34 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in Oregons Title hope-crushing defeat, hes going to need a poor performance or two from the remaining frontrunners to have a shot at the most coveted individual trophy in college sports. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . According to MMAFighting.com, MacDonald needs an x-ray on his right ankle and doctors clearance to fight or he will be subject to a mandatory medical suspension that will end on August 22, 2014. Gerardo Parra Jersey .com) - Minnesota Vikings fans would surely concede Teddy Bridgewater is not Peyton Manning.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- For someone who was lightly recruited coming out of high school, linebacker Khalil Mack is attracting an impressive crowd leading up to the NFL draft. Representatives from all 32 teams were on hand Tuesday for the University at Buffalos pro day, and the projected first-round draft pick was the main attraction inside the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse. "Thirty-two teams? Thats a blessing," Mack said. "I dont try to notice that. I try to keep that on the backburner. Im still working hard, and thats what its about with me. I dont focus on the attention." Mack is becoming difficult to overlook. At 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds, he possesses the size, speed and versatility to play a variety of positions in any type of defensive scheme. He also has impressive numbers over a four-year college career in the Mid-American Conference, which he capped by earning the Jack Lambert award as the nations top linebacker. He set an FBS career record with 16 forced fumbles and tied another one with 75 career tackles for a loss. Not bad for someone who, coming out of Fort Pierce, Fla., first considered attending Liberty University, before being offered a full scholarship by Buffalo, and only after Liberty assistant Robert Wimberly was hired by the Bulls. Some five years later, Mack had the NFLs attention during a Bulls pro day that traditionally attracts between 15 and 20 scouts. "That just shows you what high regard the NFL has of him," Bills general manager Doug Whaley said of the turnout. "The skys the limit on him." Among those on hand were Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and Cleveland Browns rookie coach Mike Pettine, the Bills former defensive co-ordinator. Pettine joked he just happened to be in town to pick up a few things he left behind. As for his interest in Mack, Pettine broke into a wide smile and said: "Just a little bit." Pettine then spent about 10 minutes on the sideline discussiing Mack with Bulls coach Jeff Quinn.dddddddddddd "Absolutely the best player Ive seen. Hes just so complete," Quinn said of Mack. "Hes a game-changer." That was evident in a last years season-opening 40-20 loss at Ohio State. Mack was in on nine tackles and had 2 1/2 sacks. He returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown that put a scare into the Buckeyes by cutting their lead to 20-13 early in the second quarter. "That was his coming-out party. The game wasnt too big for him," Whaley said. "He showed that he belonged out there. And those are the type of guys hell be playing against on Sundays." His production didnt tail off, either. Mack finished the season with a MAC-best 10 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss. He also had five forced fumbles and three interceptions while leading Buffalo (8-5) to only its second bowl berth, a 49-24 loss to San Diego State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. An NFL scouting report rates Mack as a top-10 draft prospect and lists "disruptive first-step quickness" among his strengths. On Tuesday, Mack limited his workouts to individual drills and one 40-yard dash, in which he was clocked at 4.54 seconds. That was an improvement over the 4.63-second time he had at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month. "It didnt feel like me. I felt tight," Mack said, referring to his time at Indianapolis. "I finished it up the way I wanted to today." Mack has been highly motivated to succeed since he first arrived in Buffalo. He wore No. 46 after discovering that was the number of his power ranking out of 100 on an NCAA football video game. Though he might consider changing numbers after being drafted, Mack doesnt intend to alter his approach. "I feel like theres a lot more that I have to prove, especially coming out of the MAC," Mack said. "I feel like Ive got to go out there and dominate on the next level." ' ' '