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Sharks clinch playoff berth with 3-0 shutout of Dallas
By Dave Fowkes March 25, 2010 |
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(San Jose, CA) -- After a six game slide, the San Jose Sharks may be tuning things up once again for the playoffs. In their first game back from a difficult 1-5 road trip, the Sharks took care of home ice by beating Dallas 3-0. The win officially clinches a playoff berth for San Jose. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 27 shots for his 50th career shutout. It happened against a team that steam rolled the Sharks 8-2 in Dallas less than two weeks ago. “It’s great to see Nabby take it down,” Coach Todd McLellan said. “Only one goal against in the last two games, and played extremely well.” Dan Boyle, Rob Blake and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks. Marty Turco was sharp in net making 38 saves for the Stars, but he let three get past for the loss. Special teams were a story as the Sharks went 2-for-7 on the power play compared to just two opportunities for the Stars. “We won some face offs, we got the puck to the net, and we had bodies there it’s as simple as that,” McLellan said. There were plenty of shots on net in the first period but both goalies stood tall. The Sharks out shot Dallas 15-13. There were not a lot of fantastic opportunities, but both goaltenders did make a few very nice saves. With 7:10 left in the first period Brad Staubitz and Krystofer Barch dropped the gloves and went toe-to-toe. It appeared that Staubitz landed a few extra hooks before Barch pushed him to the ground. The Sharks lit the light first just nine seconds into the first power play of the game. Dan Boyle’s shot from the blue line deflected off a defender and past Turco for the 1-0 lead at 3:29 of the second period. It took a little longer on the next power play for the Sharks to score. Patrick Marleau fired a shot from close range that bounced off of Turco. Blake was there in front of the net to shoot the rebound back in for the goal. The Sharks out shot Dallas 16-7 in the second period. The Stars had a great opportunity to get on the board two minutes into the third. A shot bounced off of Nabokov to his side where Jere Lehtinen was standing. He struggled to get quick control of the puck though and rather than drilling a wide open net he hit the post and the puck scooted back to Nabokov who covered it up. The Sharks would make the Stars pay by making it a 3-0 nearly eight minutes into the third period. Devin Setoguchi brought the puck in the zone and barely beat the defensemen to get an off balance shot off. Turco went down on the save and flopped over on his back. He made the initial save but Couture tipped the puck and it found its way through the sprawled out Turco for the goal. It got ugly with just over five minutes left. Marleau checked Steve Ott to the ground chasing the play in what looked like retaliation for earlier events. Ott did not take kindly and dropped the gloves and went after Marleau, who fought right back. Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton also were involved in the pushing, shoving and yelling before the officials finally got control back. Ott received four minutes worth of penalties and a game misconduct as well. It set up a 5-3 power play for the Sharks who already had one extra man. That two man advantage was voided 17 seconds later when Thornton was called for a questionable hooking penalty. The game would end peacefully after that with the Sharks taking home the two points. The win puts the Sharks back atop the Western Conference with 100 points this season. They have a one point lead over Chicago for the top seed and a two point lead over Phoenix in the Pacific Division. The Sharks host Vancouver on Saturday. End of Game Notes: * The Sharks now have 100 points on the season, the fourth consecutive season that they have passed the century mark. They also clinched their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. * Evgeni Nabokov recorded his 50th career NHL shutout. * Dan Boyle scored his 400th career point (106-294=400) with a goal in the second period. He added to that total with an assist in the third period. * Rob Blake’s power-play goal moves him into a tie in all time power-play goals (134) by a defenseman. He is also now in sole possession of 18th place in career points (239-533=772) by a defenseman. |
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