Blackhawks' shootout win halts eight-game slide

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Chicago Blackhawks brought a miserable eight-game losing streak to an end on Sunday with a 3-2 shootout road victory over the Nashville Predators.

Patrick Sharp, who opened the scoring in the second period, netted in the third round of the shootout to seal Chicago's first win of 2008.

"We really fought hard for that win," Sharp told reporters. "We fought and Patrick Lalime stood on his head and saved the game for us a number of times."

Netminder Lalime made 35 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped two of three shots by the Predators in the shootout.

Robert Lang also scored for the Blackhawks while Marek Zidlicky and David Legwand tallied for the Predators.

"It wasn't our best game but at least we battled," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said.

"The bottom line is we got the win. That's all that matters."

* Francois Beauchemin's goal 33 seconds into overtime led the Anaheim Ducks to their sixth consecutive home win, a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. San Jose had won 10 in a row on the road before Sunday's loss.

* Rookie defenseman Alex Edler had the only goal of a shootout as the Vancouver Canucks edged the St Louis Blues 4-3.

* Milan Hejduk collected the deciding goal in a shootout as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Florida Panthers 4-3.

Andrew Brunette had two goals in regulation for the Avalanche, who handed the Panthers their sixth consecutive home loss.

* The Edmonton Oilers won their fourth successive game as Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky each scored in a 2-1 home win over the Calgary Flames.

* Marc-Andre Bergeron's two powerplay goals sparked the New York Islanders to a 3-1 road win over the Ottawa Senators.

* Mike Knuble scored twice in the Philadelphia Flyers' 6-4 road win over the Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin had his 33rd goal of the season and an assist for the Caps.

* The Minnesota Wild beat the Phoenix Coyotes for the seventh consecutive time, winning 4-1 at home.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Wilson, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien)