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Solid night up
north
Sharks subdue Flames in Alberta
The Sharks needed a solid performance on the road,
against a quality opponent, and that’s exactly what they got on Monday
night. Starting their final multi-game road trip of the regular season in
Calgary, the Sharks parlayed solid defensive play and stellar goaltending to
take a 2-1 decision at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Evgeni Nabokov 28 of
29 shots, including 12 in a fast paced 3rd period to win his 38th game of the
season. In knocking off the Flames, the Sharks also extended their lead in the
Western Conference to 4 points over the Detroit Red Wings.
Winning at
the Saddledome has not been easy for the Sharks, who have only left with 2
points on two of their last nine regular season games there.
Scoring
first helped the cause.
The Flames setup a prime scoring opportunity
for the Sharks early in the game when Craig Conroy and Adrian Aucoin took
penalties 3 seconds apart. Dan Boyle would convert on the 2-man advantage at
6:11 on a blast from the slot. Joe Thornton setup the goal with a feed from
behind the right post, allowing Boyle to crank a shot over Flames goaltender
Miikka Kiprusoff’s shoulder.
Jonathan Cheechoo had a one-time
chance on the remaining penalty time, but Kiprusoff snared it with a quick
glove.
Jerome Iginla tied the game at 15:09 with his 32nd goal of the
season, after Christian Ehrhoff and Olli Jokinen took offsetting penalties. The
Flames took advantage of the open ice when Damond Langkow sent a 40-foot
backhand pass to Iginla along the left wing boards. The Flames captain sent a
no-look shot on net from the outside of the left circle, beating Evgeni Nabokov
to the glove side.
Defenseman Brad Lukowich paid an early visit to the
locker room in the period after getting checked into the boards awkwardly.
Lukowich would return to the ice later in the period, and returned the favor
with an open ice hit on Damond Langkow that sent the Flames forward flying.
San Jose went back on top midway through the 2nd period on a Brad
Lukowich shot from the point that brushed Jonathan Cheechoo in the high slot.
Cheechoo was awarded the goal, which was aided by Jeremy Roenick who screened
Kiprusoff on the play.
In the 3rd period, the Flames upped the tempo trailing
by a goal. Eric Nystrom just missed on a feed through the slot that he one
timed right into Nabokov’s glove.
A Joe Pavelski high sticking
penalty at 8:47 setup a close call for the Sharks, when Flames left wing Mike
Cammaleri walked in on Nabokov and tried stuffing home a shot. The sharks
netminder had inched out to the top of the crease and had to sprawl out to get
a glove on Cammaleri’s shot.
Kiprusoff matched Nabokov’s
save moments later when he denied Thornton on a point blank shot, but it was
Nabokov who shined over the final 40 minutes of play.
Game
Notes:
Sharks captain Patrick Marleau did not make the trip to
Alberta , electing to rehab his lower body injury in San Jose . He will miss
the Edmonton game on Thursday as well.
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What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| CGY |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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| 1st period - 1, SJ,
Boyle 15 (Thornton, Pavelski), 6:11, (pp). 2, CGY, Iginla 32 (Langkow,
Phaneuf), 15:09. |
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| 2nd period - 3, SJ,
Cheechoo 10 (Lukowich, Thornton), 12:24. |
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| 1st period - Conroy, CGY
(hooking), 5:33; Aucoin, CGY (delay of game – puck over glass), 5:26;
Erhoff, SJ (roughing),14:40; Jokinen, CGY (cross checking), 14:40. |
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| 2nd period - Thornton,
SJ (tripping), 0:54. |
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| 3rd period -
Pavelski, SJ (high sticking), 8:47. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Nabokov |
29 |
28 |
| CGY - Kiprusoff |
17 |
15 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
8 |
4 |
5 |
17 |
| CGY |
8 |
9 |
12 |
29 |
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| Referees: Furlatt,
Meier. Linesmen: Henderson, Lazarowich. |
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