Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Dave Bolland netted the game-winner 49 seconds into overtime to lift the Chicago Blackhawks over the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-4, at Air Canada Centre.
Patrick Sharp tallied two goals while Duncan Keith and Brian Campbell notched two helpers each for the Blackhawks, who are now 3-0 on a six-game road trip after opening the swing with back-to-back victories. Chicago also improved its road record to 4-3-1 this season.
Nikolai Khabibulin made 34 saves for Chicago, winners in seven of its last 10 overall.
"I had this game circled on my calendar all year," Sharp, a native of Thunder Bay Ontario, said. "I had my family here -- two goals was something and on Hockey Night in Canada was special."
Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky had a goal and assist each for Toronto, which has lost three straight and four of its last five games. The Leafs last skated to a 3-2 loss on Monday against visiting Boston and have lost seven of nine overall.
Vesa Toskala allowed five goals on 36 shots in the loss, marking the seventh time in eight outings that he's surrendered three or more goals.
The Maple Leafs are just 3-3-4 as the host this season and have dropped the first two tests of a three-game homestand that is scheduled to end Tuesday against Atlanta.
"We didn't play a good third period. We came out there standing around and nor pursuing the puck," Stajan said of the Leafs' late letdown. "They jumped at us. A skilled team like that will take advantage. You've got to play a full 60 minutes."
Bolland took a pass from Keith in the low slot and worked the puck to his left with his back to a defender and Toskala before lifting a backhander into the net for the game-winner to complete the comeback for Chicago, which was down 3-0 and then 4-2 at two separate junctures of the second period.
Pavel Kubina's shot from the slot made it through a screen in front and beat the netminder to the glove side for a 1-0 Toronto lead with 2:23 left in the first. The Leafs were awarded a penalty shot inside of 10 seconds remaining in the frame, but Khabibulin stoned Stajan on a backhander to leave the deficit at one entering the second.
Khabibulin was key in stopping a flurry of chances on a Toronto 5-on-3 early in the second, but the Leafs' persistent attack paid off 3:23 in. Toronto cycled in the left corner before Stajan and Tomas Kaberle played a give-and-go to perfection, with Stajan finishing off the play with a spinning backhand shot to make it 2-0.
Dominic Moore's backhander made it 3-0 but two quick goals from Sharp made it 4-2 in a busy second period. His deflection off a Keith slap shot accounted for the first goal on the power play and an even-strength marker just 2:20 later cut the deficit back to two with 3:57 remaining.
However, Ponikarovsky restored the two-goal advantage when he circled around behind the net before emerging in the left circle for a wrist shot that trickled through the legs of Khabibulin just 1:07 later.
Chicago opened the third with a goal inside the first minute of play to make it 4-3, with Kris Versteeg sending a blind pass from behind the net to Patrick Kane in front for a quick shot.
The Hawks completed the comeback when Ben Eager collected a loose puck in front and rammed home the equalizer with 7:33 left to play.
