By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif.(AP) — Joe Pavelski’s return from a broken foot
provided a jolt to the San Jose Sharks and helped deliver a
convincing victory over the Stanley Cup champions.
Pavelski had a goal and an assist in his first game back from
the injured list, Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves in his 49th
career shutout and the Sharks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for
the seventh straight time at home, 5-0 Saturday night.
“He really didn’t miss a step. It looked like he missed no time
at all,” teammate Dany Heatley said. “He should have had two
goals, I stole the other one from him. He played real well
tonight and we’re happy to have him back.”
Pavelski missed the previous five weeks after breaking his foot
while blocking a shot against Anaheim on Oct. 3. He scored San
Jose’s second goal and assisted on the fourth.
“There’s a smile on everyone’s face when he is back in the
lineup,” coach Todd McLellen said. “He means so much to our
team, a very intelligent player. He brings a calmness to the
ice.”
The Sharks played back-to-back games against the Stanley Cup
finalists, losing a shootout in Detroit on Thursday before
dominating champion Pittsburgh. San Jose led 4-0 less than 4
minutes into the second period, outshooting a Pittsburgh team
missing star center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Sergei Gonchar
17-3 at one point.
Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby was held pointless for a fourth
straight game for the fourth time in his career. He hit the post
with a shot early in the second but was unable to convert
against Nabokov and the Sharks.
“We just weren’t ready to play the type of game that they came
ready to play,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.
Heatley, Dan Boyle, Jamie McGinn and Manny Malhotra also scored
for San Jose, which has eight wins and a tie at home against
Pittsburgh since last losing to the Penguins at the Shark Tank
5-2 on Oct. 22, 1997, when Crosby was only 10 years old.
The Penguins had tied a team record with seven straight road
wins before losing 5-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday
night. They followed that up with the loss in San Jose, marking
the first time in 42 regular-season games under Bylsma that
Pittsburgh has gone consecutive games without a point.
“We were lackluster at points,” forward Matt Cooke said.
“Everybody goes out on the ice with the intention of winning a
hockey game. Sure, we have injuries and it’s there as an excuse
if you want to take it. But if we want to win hockey games we
have to face adversity and find a way to win 1-0 if we have to.
You have to adjust, work harder and work smarter.”
San Jose knocked Marc-Andre Fleury out 1:41 into the second
period when Boyle wove through the Penguins defense on a long
rush up ice before beating Fleury with a wrist shot that made it
3-0. Fleury made 11 saves.
Brent Johnson didn’t fare much better, allowing a quick goal to
Heatley. Joe Thornton made a perfect feed to Pavelski, who was
coming out of the penalty box. Johnson stopped Pavelski’s shot
but Heatley tipped the rebound in for the 4-0 lead and the rout
was on.
Sharks enforcer Jody Shelley got into a pair of fights in the
third period, getting the best of Jay McKee and Eric Godard. The
first led to a power-play goal by Malhotra.
The Sharks dominated play in the opening period, outshooting the
Penguins 13-3 while scoring two goals. McGinn got it started
when Jed Ortmeyer forced a turnover at the blue line and sprung
McGinn up ice with a blind pass. McGinn’s second-effort shot
from a bad angle got past Fleury and gave San Jose a 1-0 lead.
The Sharks then came though on the power play for just the
second time in six home games this season. Boyle fired a pass
from the point that Pavelski redirected past a helpless Fleury
for his first goal of the season.
“It had been a while, since last regular season,” Pavelski said.
“I was just looking to get back into it and get a few chances.”
NOTES: Pittsburgh C Tyler Kennedy was sidelined for the fifth
time in six games with an undisclosed injury. … Pittsburgh is
2-14-2 in California since the start of the 1999-2000 season.
… Pittsburgh D Kris Letang left in the first period, holding
his right arm awkwardly. He did not return. … Pittsburgh is 0
for 21 on the power play in its last four games. … Nabokov is
8-1 in nine career starts against the Penguins.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete