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Nabokov shines in
shutout SJ snaps 4 game skid 3/4/07 - by Mike Lee
Perhaps the Sharks strategy has
been to open the
playoffs on the road all along. After a decisive 4-0
win in Dallas on Sundsy afternoon, the Sharks showed
why theyre a force to be reckoned with on the road.
Even through their recent shortcomings, the Sharks are
still one of the best road teams in the NHL, pushing
their record to 21-13-0 away from HP Pavilion with the
win in Dallas. Evgeni Nabokov turned aside all 26
shot she faced en route to his 5th shutout of the
season. The win also pulled the Sharks back to within
a point of the Stars for 5th place in the Western
Conference.
The Sharks turned in one of their grittiest
performances of the year, wearing down the Stars.
Curtis Brown got things going early for San Jose,
rifling a shot past Marty Turco just 2:38 into the
game. Brown took a pass up ice from Christian
Ehrhoff, then split Stephane Robidas and Trevor Daley
before sending a shot inside the right post. Brown
was positioned near the left dot, shooting across
Turco for the 1-0 lead.
That single shot on goal, would be the only one the
Sharks would muster in the opening period.
Evgeni Nabokov prevented the Stars from tying the game
up moments later stoning Mike Ribeiro, after the
Dallas forward one-timed a cross-ice pass. Nabokov
was forced to cut across his crease in order to get a
pad on the shot.
Ryane Clowe deposited a rebound past Turco at 11:27 of
the 2nd period for this 14th goal of the season. The
Sharks 3rd line created the opportunity with a strong
forecheck and cashed in after Marcel Goc setup Patrick
Rissmiller with a pass from the deep in the Stars
zone. Rissmiller one-timed a shot from the left dot,
but Turco failed to control the rebound. Clowe
scooped up the loose puck then skated around the
fallen Stars goaltender before backhanding the puck
into a wide open net.
Joe Pavelski made it 3-0 4 minutes later with his 13th
goal of the season, moments after the Stars narrowly
missed on a Daryl Sydor shot that found its way
through Nabokovs 5-hole. Jonathan Cheechoo tried
jamming a wrap-around attempt from the left post, but
Turco denied the Sharks winger. Pavelski followed up
from the opposite post, jamming home the puck as it
sat underneath Turcos pad.
Chris Barch tried lighting a fire under his teammates
by dropping the gloves with Mark Bell. The skirmish
was quickly stopped after Barch pulled Bells jersey
over his head.
San Jose failed to bury the Stars late in the period
after two Stars were whistled for separate
infractions. Clowe missed on a chance in front of the
net as the buzzer sounded, keeping the door open for
Dallas.
San Jose would finish the period with 12 shots on
goal, but more importantly they headed into the final
period with a 3-goal lead. Thats a luxury San Jose
has enjoyed much of in the last two months, but it was
critical in ending the 4-game losing streak.
Brown would open the door for Dallas to start the 3rd
period by earning a double minor for slashing, but the
Sharks would keep the Stars from getting close to
Nabokov.
Bernier would narrowly miss on a play that started
with the Sharks winger getting past two Dallas
defenders and that ended with Berniers shot bouncing
off the left post. San Jose would suppress the Stars
offense throughout the period, even though the Stars
put 10 shots on goal. Stu Barnes would come closest
to solving Nabokov with a shot that rang off the
crossbar with 2:38 to play.
Dallas was forced to deviate from their defensive
style and open things up in order to generate some
scoring chances late. Pavelski would cash in on the
opportunity with his 2nd goal of the game late on a
give-and-go with Clowe after the Stars were caught in
the Sharks zone. Cheechoo chipped the puck up off the
right wing boards to Pavelski, who sent a pass to
Clowe across to the opposite wing. With only one
Dallas defender back, Clowe elected to return the pass
to Pavelski who was cutting in on net.
Notes:
The shutout was the 32nd of Nabokovs career. The
Sharks recalled goaltender Dimitri Patzold from
Worcester, with Toskala still on the fence with a
groin injury. Patrick Marleau missed his 3rd
consecutive game as he continues to nurse his upper
body injury. Scott Hannan returned to the blueline
after missing the past two games with a leg injury.
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
SJ |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
DAL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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1st period - 1, SJ, Brown 8 (Ehrhoff,
Grier), 2:38. |
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2nd period - 2, SJ, Clowe 14 (Rissmiller,
Goc), 11:27. 3, SJ, Pavelski 13 (Cheechoo, Carle), 15:58. |
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3rd period - 4, SJ, Pavelski 14 (Clowe,
Cheechoo), 18:17. |
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1st period - Miettinen, DAL (high sticking),
12:32; Guerin, SJ (hooking), 17:50. |
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2nd period - Barnes, DAL (hooking), 4:07;
Bell, SJ (fighting major), 17:09; Barch, DAL (fighting major), 17:09; Nagy,
DAL
(high sticking), 18:08; Norstrom, DAL (slashing), 18:31. |
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3rd period - Brown, SJ (high sticking -
double minor), 2:03. |
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Shots |
Saves |
SJ - Nabokov |
36 |
26 |
DAL - Turco |
18 |
14 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
SJ |
1 |
12 |
5 |
18 |
DAL |
9 |
7 |
10 |
26 |
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Referees: Greg Kimmerly, Rob Martell. Linesmen:
Darren Gibbs, Shane Heyer. |
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