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Nashville knocks off SJ in
OT
Predators win with 16 seconds
remaining
1/31/04 - by Mike Lee
The
Sharks ended their short two-game road trip by salvaging a point in a 3-2
overtime loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. You could say that
the Predators let the Sharks off the hook by even allowing the extra period.
The Sharks were outplayed for much of regulation, but Evgeni Nabokov kept
things close after his defense failed him on numerous occasions.
Disorganization has been the disturbing pattern over the last two games, and
Saturday's performance ended with a slap in the face after Marek Zidlicky
scored with 16 seconds remaining in the extra period.
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1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
T |
| SJ |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| NSH |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
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| 2nd period - NSH,
LEGWAND(YORK, ERAT), 04:02 S.J, MARLEAU(EHRHOFF, RATHJE), 15:09 S.J,
PRIMEAU(MARLEAU, DIMITRAKOS), 17:43 |
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| 3rd period - NSH,
WALKER(LEGWAND), 07:22 |
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| Overtime - NSH,
ZIDLICKY(WALKER, TIMONEN), 04:44 |
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| 1st period - NSH,
ORSZAGH, 11:39 - Hooking |
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| 2nd period - S.J,
EHRHOFF, 02:18 - Holding NSH, TIMONEN, 05:53 - Holding stick S.J, PRIMEAU,
10:01 - Roughing S.J, MCLAREN, 13:29 - Unsportsmanlike conduct NSH, JOHANSSON,
13:29 - Unsportsmanlike conduct S.J, HANNAN, 18:07 - Hooking |
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| Overtime - S.J,
NABOKOV, 01:49 - Unsportsmanlike conduct NSH, WALKER, 01:49 - Unsportsmanlike
conduct |
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Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Nabokov |
30 |
27 |
| NSH - Vokoun |
26 |
24 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
T |
| SJ |
5 |
15 |
5 |
1 |
26 |
| NSH |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
30 |
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Zidlicky scored on a rebound off a Scott Walker shot
after the Sharks turned the puck over in the neutral zone and allowed the
Predators to waltz in on Nabokov. The Predators had already peppered Nabokov
with five shots in the overtime period, but Walker took advantage of just one
of many breakdowns.
Walker tied the game at 2-2 at 7:22 of the 3rd
period by snapping a shot past a fallen Nabokov from point blank range. Sharks
defenseman Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan seemed lost on the ice for much of the
evening, and neither was in Walker's vicinity after the two loaded the opposite
side of the ice. David Legwand's initial shot kicked out to Walker on the left
wing, leaving Nabokov exposed with no help.
The Sharks looked as if
they might steal a win after taking a 2-1 lead late in the 2nd period after
Wayne Primeau scored his sixth goal of the season.
San Jose received a
gift in the 1st period when game officials ruled that Patrick Marleau's chip
shot out of a scrum on the Predators doorstep crossed the goal line. Video
replay did not show any conclusive evidence that the puck crossed the line, but
Marleau was credited with his 22nd goal of the season after a lengthy review.
Legwand opened the games scoring with a power play tally just four
minutes into the contest.
Play of the
Game
Zidlicky's game-winning overtime tally was justice for the
Predators, who had outworked San Jose all night long. Tough break for Nabokov
who actually deserved a better fate after making 27 saves.
The
Turning Point
Walker's goal was a back breaker, because the Predators
are not a team blessed with a lot of offensive power, speed or anything else
that helps generates scoring. Consider that the Predators weren't throwing a
ton of shots at Nabokov in the period is further evidence that the Sharks were
just out of synch all evening.
Save of the
Game
Vokoun and Nabokov made several key stops throughout the
evening, but none was more important that a kick save that the Predators goalie
made on a Marco Sturm shot midway through the 3rd period. The Sharks drew the
Predators to the right side of the net and a deflection kicked out to Sturm
breaking in the opposite direction. His shot looked destined for the back of
the net, but Vokoun's right pad lashed out at the last moment, deflecting the
shot.
Box Scores Do No Justice
Nabokov drew an
unsportsmanlike penalty in the overtime period along with Walker after the
Predators forward took a poke at the Sharks netminder in front of the Sharks
net. Play had been whistled dead when Walker started mixing it up with Hannan
in the crease. Nabokov tried to get out of the crease, but he ended up taking
two shots to the mask. He responded by throwing a couple of quick jabs himself.
So much for protecting goaltenders.
Honorable
Mention
Sharks rookie defenseman Christian Ehrhoff continued to
struggle on Saturday. After making several mistakes in the Sharks loss to
Dallas on Friday night, Ehrhoff extended his streak of gaffs with three plays
that resulted in scoring opportunities for the Predators.
Quotables
"We had our opportunities to put the game away, and
unfortunately, we didn't. When you don't finish a team, if somebody's a little
off or makes a mental mistake, they are going to get paid back in spades." -
Sharks head coach Ron Wilson
"Every game we play, it's kind of a joke.
We come in here and say, `This is the biggest game of the year.' Then we come
back the next game and say, `This is the biggest game of the year.' They're all
huge for us because we are playing so many teams in our conference." - Scott
Walker
"The Sharks' line was tired so I figured I would just drive to
the net. I ended up crashing the net and Zidlicky came in and buried it." -
Walker
Milestones
The Dallas
Stars moved to within three points of the Sharks Pacific Division lead with a
5-4 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night. The Sharks enjoyed a nine
point lead in the Pacific as recently as two weeks ago.
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