Stars rally to beat Sharks DALLAS 3, SAN JOSE

SAN JOSE, Calif.(AP) — Stephane Robidas was surprised when Dallas
coach Marc Crawford called his name for the shootout. The
defenseman had never attempted a penalty shot during the regular
season.

“When you look at all the forwards we have, and all the skills,
it was pretty surprising,” Robidas said. “I scored in a
preseason game last year and once in junior hockey but I wasn’t
comfortable making a move so I just shot it.”

Robidas scored the only shootout goal – in the third round – to
give the Stars a 3-2 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks
on Thursday night.

James Neal and Mike Modano tied it with goals in a 1:45 span of
the third period after Dany Heatley and Ryane Clowe scored in a
2:11 span in the second period to give the Sharks a 2-0 edge.
Neal scored his 10th goal of the season, and Modano, who missed
13 games because of a rib injury, tied it with his first of the
season.

“We’ve been pretty good going into the third period,” Clowe
said. “They got the flukey goal on the first one and they played
well.”

Modano scored for the first time in 22 games, scoring against
the Sharks in San Jose last season. He has 72 points against the
Sharks.

“It was a real entertaining hockey game for everybody,” Crawford
said. “I thought the overtime was very exciting. Both teams had
a couple of chances.”

Marty Turco made 30 stops for the Stars, who gained a point for
the first time in three road games. Evgeni Nabokov had 34 saves
for the Sharks, who recorded a point in their 10th straight
game. San Jose is 6-0-2 at home.

“To grind out a win is absolutely huge,” said Turco, who has 22
wins against the Sharks – his most against any team. “We threw
everything we had at them and there are a lot of things to be
content about.”

Neal, who missed the last two games because of a groin injury,
recorded points in his eighth straight game. His goal hit off
Sharks defender Jason Demers’ skates and floated over Nabokov’s
left shoulder and into the net.

“I was staying off to the side and you couldn’t get an unluckier
bounce,” Demers said. “Things were rolling for us and we have to
finish.”

Modano’s goal came as a result of Neal fanning on a shot. The
puck floated back to Modano, who fired it past Nabokov. It was
his 24th goal against San Jose and the 544th of his career, good
for a 27th-place tie with Maurice Richard on the career list.

“This had a playoff type atmosphere,” Demers said. “There was a
lot of hitting and a lot of skating. It was a good effort form
both teams.”

The Sharks beat Dallas in five of their six meetings last
season.

The Stars killed off three power plays against the NHL’s best
power-play team at home. Dallas has killed off 11 straight power
plays.

NOTES: Modano has played more games against the Sharks (78) than
anyone else. … Stars left wing Fabian Brunnstrom missed the
game after injuring his shoulder during Tuesday’s practice. …
Sharks defenseman Rob Blake missed the game because of an
upper-body injury. … Stars right wing Krystofer Barch returned
to the ice after missing three games because of a back injury.
… Dallas’ Jamie Benn was unsuccessful on his first career
penalty shot.

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