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Nabokov continues hot hand at
home
32-save shutout beats Dallas
10/17/06 - by Mike Lee
Fielding a team with a top flight goaltender is a luxury in the
NHL. Having two goaltenders that fit that bill is almost unheard of. Quality
netminders are not a commodity in the NHL's new salary cap era, but the Sharks
have cornered the market to start the season. Evgeni Nabokov bounced back from
the only loss surrendered by the Sharks this season and turned a 32-save
performance to beat the visiting Dallas Stars 2-0 at HP Pavilion on Tuesday
night.
Nabokov parlayed a stingy Sharks defense into his second consecutive home
shut-out of the season. Dallas put pucks on net throughout the evening, but
Nabokov seemed to read every shot perfectly.
He would cash in on a little luck as well, making a circus save late in the
game on what should have been a sure goal for Stars center Jeff Halpern.
Nabokov was forced to dive across the top of the crease feet first, after
allowing a shot to rebound to Halpern on the opposite side of the net. Nabokov
caught the puck with his pads as Halpern tried sweeping it into the net from 10
feet out.
Dallas had opportunities to score, but they ran into a hot goaltender who
outplayed Marty Turco, their own perennial All-Star. Nabokov allowed a shot to
trickle through his pads early in the game, but his own momentum caused his
skate to punch the puck wide and into the post. Stu Barnes missed on a
breakaway midway through the 1st period and Sergei Zubov rang a shot off the
right post early in the 3rd period.
The Sharks almost scored on a breakaway themselves early in the game on an
attempt by Patrick Marleau, but Turco stuffed Marleau's shot with a sprawling
pad save. San Jose got to Turco minutes later on Milan Michalek's 5th goal of
the season.
Matt Carle setup the goal with a bullet to Michalek, who was cutting across the
top of the crease. The puck hit Michalek's tape, and floated end-over-end into
the Stars goal. Turco may have thought the shot was going to clear the top of
the goal based on his reaction.
Dallas would out-shoot the Sharks 14-4 in the 2nd period, but again failed to
show anything for their efforts.
Sharks left wing Mark Bell returned to the lineup after missing the recent
three-game road trip with a groin injury. Bell made his return count by
scoring his second goal of the season with 3:40 remaining in the period.
Jonathan Cheechoo setup Bell's goal by faking a shot as he streaked up the
right wing boards, before sliding a pass to Bell in the slot.
Nabokov's teammates buckled down on defense, even after committing eight minor
penalties. The Sharks would kill all five Stars power play chances to keep
Dallas off the scoreboard.
Things got testy in the middle of the 2nd period when Mike Grier collided with
Turco against the Dallas end boards. Turco had come out to play a loose puck,
and Grier sandwiched him against the boards while attempting to grab control of
the puck. Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher took exception and went after
Grier. San Jose ended up down a man, because Grier was whistled for charging.
Notes:
Captain Patrick Marleau and wife Christina welcomed their first child to the
Sharks family on Monday night. Landon Marleau weighed in at 6-pound,
15-ounces.
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| DAL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| SJ |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
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| 1st period - 1, SJ, Michalek 5 (Carle,
McLaren), 13:07. |
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| 2nd period -
2, SJ, Bell 2 (Cheechoo, Carle), 16:20. |
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| 1st period - Gorges, SJ (high-sticking),
3:46; Ehrhoff, SJ (holding), 10:26; Modano, DAL (holding the stick), 11:00;
Gorges, SJ (hooking), 12:07; Robidas, DAL (hooking), 12:59; Barnaby, DAL
(roughing), 17:24; McLaren, SJ (roughing), 17:24; Robidas, DAL (holding),
19:02; Ehrhoff, SJ (goaltender interference), 19:02. |
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| 2nd period - Boucher, DAL (fighting), 10:58;
Grier, SJ (charging, fighting), 10:58. |
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| 3rd period - Cheechoo, SJ (tripping), 7:01;
Halpern, DAL (slashing), 12:50. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| DAL - Turco |
23 |
21 |
| SJ - Nabokov |
32 |
32 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| DAL |
13 |
14 |
5 |
32 |
| SJ |
11 |
4 |
8 |
23 |
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| Referees: Chris Rooney, Kelly Sutherland. Linesmen:
Derek Amell, Vaughan Rody. |
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