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Cujo peppered in
blowout
Sharks win 4-0
12/11/06 - by Mike Lee
Winning division games is the key to making a playoff appearance
in the wild Pacific Division. The Sharks kicked off a 10-game stretch to close
out December, which will match them up with division opponents in nine of those
games. Monday nights 4-0 blowout of the visiting Phoenix Coyotes was a step in
the right direction, as four different San Jose forwards scored goals and Vesa
Toskala recorded his 7th career shutout.
Phoenix kept the game close for 35 minutes, even though they faced a barrage of
shots in the opening period. Had it not been for netminder Curtis Joseph, the
Coyotes might have been buried after facing 22 shots before the first
intermission.
Milan Michalek converted on a 5-on-3 power play with 1:29 remaining in the
opening stanza, scoring on the Sharks last shot of the period. San Jose had a
similar two-man situation earlier in the period but failed to get the puck past
Joseph. Michalek one-timed a Joe Thornton pass from behind the Coyotes goal to
finally break the ice.
Mike Comrie had a chance to tie the game on a golden opportunity in close, but
Toskala stopped the Phoenix forward shot with an outstretched paddle, after
diving across the crease.
"The save Vesa made on Comrie midway through the second period was huge,"
Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "That would have given them some life and tied
the game."
Phoenix buckled down on the shot count in the middle period, but allowed the
Sharks to score twice. Steve Bernier used a screen by Michalek to score his
9th goal of the season after the Sharks raced up ice on a 4-on-2 break. Three
Coyotes were caught behind the Sharks net, including former San Jose captain
Owen Nolan who tried sliding a pass into the slot.
Current captain Patrick Marleau skated the puck up the ice before slamming on
the breaks and feeding Bernier just inside the Coyotes left circle. Bernier
cut back toward the net, before lifting a 25-foot shot just inside the right
post.
Joseph argued that he was interfered by Michalek, who crashed the net as
Bernier uncorked his shot. No penalty was called on Michalek, allowing the
goal to stand. Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky was incensed by a similar play
moments later, when Shane Doan was sent to the box for running into Toskala.
The Sharks converted on one of nine power play opportunities with Doan in the
box when Joe Pavelski redirected a Joe Thornton shot over Joseph's left
shoulder. Pavelski was parked outside the right post as Thornton one-timed a
pass Marleau pass from his usual position near the bottom of the right circle.
"We had all kinds of chances and Cujo made some great saves," Pavelski said,
referring to Joseph. "We were crashing the net and he kept saving them until it
finally opened up."
Phoenix tried to muster some fight in the 3rd period, out-shooting the Sharks
9-4 in the period, but Curtis Joseph put the game out of reach with another
shot over Joseph's shoulder. Brown skated the puck out from behind the net,
before spinning and firing the puck on net while Derek Morris partially
screened Joseph. Thornton assisted on the goal, giving him his second
consecutive three point game.
"Cujo was keeping them in it," Brown said. "When goalies come up big like that,
you can get frustrated. We didn't get frustrated and kept our feet moving."
Things got testy late in the game after Mark Bell lit up Comrie deep in the
Phoenix zone as the Coyotes forward sent a pass up ice. Irritated by the hit,
Comrie went after the first Sharks player he could line up, hitting defenseman
Rob Davision below the waist with an awkward check. Bell immediately went
after Comrie, before a series of scrums broke out. Davision locked up with
Dave Scatchard in a heated exchange of fists.
"We just weren't ready to play," Gretzky said. "You can't take six penalties in
a period and expect to win. We're being selfish out there and that's what is
causing the penalties."
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| PHO |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| SJ |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
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| 1st period - 1, SJ, Michalek 10 (Thonrton,
Marleau), 18:31, (pp). |
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| 2nd period -
2, SJ, Bernier 9 (Marleau, Michalek), 15:31. 3, SJ, Pavelsk 5
(Thornton, Marleau), 17:41, (pp). |
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| 3rd period - 4, SJ, Brown 6 (Thornton),
4:19. |
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| 1st period - Ballard, PHO (hooking), 5:28;
Sparykin, PHO (high sticking), 10:20; Ballard, PHO (hooking), 10:39; Bell, SJ
(slashing), 13:21; Brown, SJ (hooking), 14:11; Roenick, PHO (high sticking -
double minor), 15:34; Michalek, PHO (hooking), 17:18. |
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| 2nd period - Bernier, SJ (boarding), 1:24;
Michalek, PHO (tripping), 7:14; Doan, PHO (goaltender interference),
16:09. |
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| 3rd period - Team, SJ (too many men), 13:34;
Murray, SJ (hooking), 16:09; Comrie, PHO (tripping), 18:42; Scatchard, PHO
(fighting major), 18:42; Jovanovski, PHO (roughing), 18:42; Davison, SJ
(fighting major), 18:42; Bell, SJ (roughing), 18:42; Goc, SJ (interference),
19:55. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| PHO - Joseph |
34 |
30 |
| SJ - Toskala |
23 |
23 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| PHO |
6 |
8 |
9 |
23 |
| SJ |
22 |
8 |
4 |
34 |
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| Referees: Gord Dwyer, Bill McCreary. Linesmen:
Shane Heyer, Jay Sharrers. |
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