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Finally a win
at home Sharks play sloppy,
but win 10/20/07 - by
Mike Lee
The Sharks still have
some things to work on in terms of execution, but they
did enough right to win their first home game of the
season, 3-0 over the visiting Nashville Predators.
Evgeni Nabokov turned away 22 shots to earn his 1st
shutout of the season for San Jose. After an
off-season fire sale, the new look Predators were
lighter in terms of team talent, but they still kept
the game within reach through the middle of the 3rd
period.
Both teams seemed apprehensive with the puck in the
opening period. The Predators received two early
power play opportunities, but failed to convert. The
Sharks would try to counter on the man-advantage
themselves later in the period, but San Jose's special
teams play was ineffective.
Steve Bernier gave the crowd a scare, when he went
flying headfirst into the end boards behind
Nashville's net. Bernier was caught off balance as he
fought for a puck with Ryan Suter, then speared the
boards with his helmet and shoulder. He would skate
away from the boards, escaping injury somehow.
Mike Grier missed on a golden opportunity early in the
2nd period after a bad bounce ended up on his stick
with nobody between him and goaltender Chris Mason.
Grier snapped a shot from 10 feet, but Mason snared it
with his glove.
Scott Nichol was sent off a minute into de Vries
penalty after he threw the puck over the glass for a
delay of game penalty, giving the Sharks a 5-on-3 for
almost a full minute. Jeremy Roenick would make the
Predators pay with his 498th career goal. Joe
Thornton slid a backdoor pass across the slot from the
right dot and Roenick buried it for the 1-0 Sharks
lead.
Christian Ehrhoff missed pushing the Sharks lead to 2
goals by bouncing a shot off the left post moments
after Roenick's goal. Milan Michalek also missed on a
one-timer from point blank range, after Thornton set
him up with a pretty pass from behind the Predators
net.
Milan Michalek had a short handed break midway through
the 3rd period after Kyle McLaren was sent to the box
for cross checking. Michalek grabbed a loose puck at
center ice then sailed past Dan Hamhuis on the way to
the Nashville net. Mason stood tall, denying Michalek
who tried stuffing it inside the left post with a
backhand move.
San Jose finally applied some sustained pressure with
8 minutes to play, controlling the puck in the
Nashville zone for an eternity. Thornton, Joe
Pavelski and Patrick Rissmiller cycled the puck
between each other, wearing down the Nashville
defense. On the ensuing shift Patrick Marleau took a
pass from Torrey Mitchell at center ice, then ripped a
shot that handcuffed Mason. The puck bounced up in
the air and pin balled off Mason's paddle and into the
net.
The goal finally gave the Sharks the buffer they
needed to fend off the pesky Predators.
Nashville head coach Barry Trotz pulled Mason with 2
minutes to play, but the Predators could only generate
one quality chance. Michalek buried an empty-netter
late after Thornton picked off a pass in the defensive
zone, then played patty-cake with Michalek down the
length of the ice.
Although he faced a relatively light load, Nabokov had
a textbook performance, stopping everything that
Nashville threw at him. The Sharks netminder didn't
help the Predators with big rebounds.
Game Notes:
Marcel Goc felt the rath of Sharks head coach Ron
Wilson for his performance on Thursday against
Detroit, and earned a seat in the press box Saturday
night. Curtis Brown was also a healthy scratch.
Wilson elected to go with 7 defensemen, suiting up
both Douglas Murray and Rob Davison. Davison saw some
time on offense.
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What did
you
think of this game? Post your comments on
the
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
NSH |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SJ |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
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2nd period - 1, SJ,
Roenick 3 (Thornton, Rivet), 4:52, (pp). |
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3rd period - 2, SJ,
Marleau 2 (Mitchell, Ehrhoff), 13:39. 3, SJ, Michalek
4 (Thornton, Grier), 19:53, (en). |
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1st period -
Thornton, SJ (hooking), 1:11; Ehrhoff, SJ (cross
checking), 3:01; Nichol, NSH (roughing), 9:49; Bernie,
SJ (roughing), 9:49; Suter, NSH (hooking), 10:57; de
Vries, NSH (tripping), 18:06. |
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2nd period - de
Vries, NSH (tripping), 3:21; Nichol, NSH (delay of
game - puck over glass), 4:19; Erat, NSH (goaltender
interference), 8:58; Pavelski, SJ (roughing), 11:46;
Nichol, NSH (roughing), 15:31. |
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3rd period -
McLaren, SJ (cross checking), 7:37; Thornton, SJ
(interference), 10:22; Cheechoo, SJ (holding), 14:34;
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Shots |
Saves |
NSH - Mason |
19 |
17 |
NSH - empty
net | 1 | 0 |
SJ - Nabokov | 22 | 22 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
NSH |
10 |
4 |
8 |
22 |
SJ |
7 |
9 |
4 |
20 |
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Referees: Wes
McCauley, Michael McGeough
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Linesmen: Brian Mach, Mark Wheler.
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