|
|
Sharks find legs in win
SJ returns home after east coast swing
1/16/06
- by Mike Lee
So much for all the belly-aching about being
fatigued after the Sharks most recent road trip. San Jose outworked the
visiting Tampa Bay Lightning for three periods and skated to an easy 3-1
victory at HP Pavilion on Monday evening. The Sharks made it back into San
Jose in the wee hours of Sunday morning and had the disadvantage of playing a
Lightning team that has only played one game in the last eight days.
San Jose returned to the win column after having their five-game win streak
snapped by the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Weather caused delays in the
Sharks return to the Bay Area, and the rigors of a lengthy road trip to face
Eastern Conference opposition takes its toll. Monday's affair with the
lightning also started early (5:00pm) to accommodate national television).
"This was when your youth can be to your advantage, and it was for us," Sharks
head coach RonWilson said. "Tampa Bay flew across the country, too, but we are
the ones who should be used to it. They looked sluggish at times, and we took
advantage of that."
Milan Michalek, Kyle McLaren and Nils Ekman scored goals for the Sharks, who
gained on Dallas, Anaheim and Phoenix in the standings on Monday. League
assist leader Joe Thornton also added a pair of assists to help propel the
Sharks over the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
Michalek roofed a blast from the slot on a drop pass from Patrick Marleau
midway through the 1st period to open the scoring. The shot seemed to fool
Lightning goaltender Sean Burke, who made 22 saves on the night.
San Jose outshot Tampa Bay 11-3 in the 2nd period, clearly controlling the
tempo of play. Burke kept the Lightning close by stopping all but one of those
shots in the period. Only McLaren's blast from the high slot got past the
Lightning netminder.
"If it hadn't been for Burke, we would have been embarrassed," Lightning head
coach John Tortorella said after the game. "We should be embarrassed."
Brad Richards made things interesting in the final period, by scoring his 13th
goal of the season on a fluke bounce with just over eight minutes to play.
Ekman sealed the Sharks win, with a pretty goal with just under two minutes
remaining in regulation. The Sharks winger took a pass from Thornton along the
right win boards, then steamed past a defender and sailed in on Burke. The
Lightning netminder never had a chance against the uncontested shot from Ekman.
"We're not where we want to be, but we've got some games in hand and we're
picking up our game," said Ekman. "We're confident, and we think we're on the
right track. We're playing the way we should have from the start."
The fatigue that Sharks were worried about turned out to affect the Lightning
more than San Jose.
"I couldn't get my legs going," Tampa Bay center Tim Taylor said. "I felt
terrible. We practiced very well (Sunday), too. We didn't have our legs at all.
When they got up by two, it was hard to get through them. It's disappointing,
but we have to find answers."
Vesa Toskala stopped 21 shots to earn his 5th straight victory. Regular
starter Evgeni Nabokov was givent eh night off to rest his groin. Nolan
Schaefer was recalled from Cleveland to serve as Toskala's backup.
Notes:
There were only five penalties called during the game. san Jose
was whsitled for two infractions, both coming in the 3rd period.
The
Sharks finished 9-1 against Eastern Conference Teams this season.
 |
| What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the
Feeder
Forums |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder
Forums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| TB |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| SJ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
| 1st period - 1, San Jose, Michalek 7
(Marleau), 13:34. Penalty - Kubina, TAM (boarding), 13:41. |
|
|
| 2nd period - 2, San Jose, McLaren 2
(J.Thornton, Cheechoo), 12:28.
|
|
|
| 3rd period - 3, Tampa Bay, Richards 13
(Milley), 11:08.
4, San Jose, Ekman 10 (J.Thornton), 18:06.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2nd period - Prospal, TAM (hooking), 2:32;
Modin, TAM (interference), 17:46. |
|
|
| 3rd period - Dimitrakos, SJS (hooking),
1:21; Preissing, SJS (hooking), 18:50. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Shots |
Saves |
| TB - Burke |
25 |
22 |
| SJ - Toskala |
22 |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| TB |
9 |
3 |
10 |
22 |
| SJ |
4 |
11 |
10 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Referees: Greg Kimmerly, Steve Kozari. Linesmen:
Ryan Galloway, Don Henderson. |
|
|
|
|
|
