casper
01-12-2010, 09:26 AM
NABOKOV MAKES 33 SAVES AS SHARKS GRIND OUT WIN OVER KINGS
THE CANADIAN PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves, Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist, and the San Jose Sharks ended the Los Angeles Kings' recent mastery over them with a 2-1 victory Monday night.
Dany Heatley scored his 26th goal for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks, who had lost two of three, including an embarrassing 6-2 loss to Los Angeles at the Shark Tank seven days earlier.
With physical checking and a strong bounce-back effort by Nabokov, San Jose beat the Kings in regulation for the first time in five meetings this season.
Randy Jones scored and Erik Ersberg stopped 34 shots for the slumping Kings, who have lost three straight and seven of 10. After briefly leading the Western Conference just a month ago, Los Angeles is back on the fringe of the playoff picture during its worst 10-game stretch of the season.
San Jose is still struggling for offence, managing just seven goals in its past four games. Ersberg recovered from a shaky beginning to just his second start since Dec. 9 while filling in for U.S. Olympic team goalie Jonathan Quick, who was pulled from the Kings' 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Saturday night.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan had a rare week of disappointment with his club's effort in losses to the Kings and Detroit, and he let his players know about it with a physical practice Sunday in San Jose. Los Angeles coach Terry Murray also had concerns about his team's effort, holding lengthy meetings with his players during Sunday's practice.
San Jose began the game with six of its NHL-high eight Olympians on the ice, showcasing the defending Pacific Division champions' enviable top-shelf talent.
Less than four minutes in, Boyle's shot from the point slipped between several players and through Ersberg's legs for the Canadian Olympian's ninth goal of another strong season.
Heatley then scored during a lengthy man-advantage early in the second period, batting his own rebound out of mid-air for the 26th goal of his debut season with San Jose. The star forward connected with the puck at about Ersberg's mask level, just low enough to avoid a high-sticking call.
Jones answered for Los Angeles 37 seconds later, scoring his first goal since Dec. 3 on a weak-side rebound.
Los Angeles failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage in the third period, and neither team had many juicy scoring chances in the final minutes.
NOTES: D Alec Martinez played a regular shift for the Kings in just his fourth game. He's been up and down from Los Angeles' AHL affiliate in Manchester, most recently getting sent down Saturday and recalled Sunday. ... Sharks LW John McCarthy played his second game of the season. ... Joe Thornton picked up his 48th assist on Heatley's goal.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves, Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist, and the San Jose Sharks ended the Los Angeles Kings' recent mastery over them with a 2-1 victory Monday night.
Dany Heatley scored his 26th goal for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks, who had lost two of three, including an embarrassing 6-2 loss to Los Angeles at the Shark Tank seven days earlier.
With physical checking and a strong bounce-back effort by Nabokov, San Jose beat the Kings in regulation for the first time in five meetings this season.
Randy Jones scored and Erik Ersberg stopped 34 shots for the slumping Kings, who have lost three straight and seven of 10. After briefly leading the Western Conference just a month ago, Los Angeles is back on the fringe of the playoff picture during its worst 10-game stretch of the season.
San Jose is still struggling for offence, managing just seven goals in its past four games. Ersberg recovered from a shaky beginning to just his second start since Dec. 9 while filling in for U.S. Olympic team goalie Jonathan Quick, who was pulled from the Kings' 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Saturday night.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan had a rare week of disappointment with his club's effort in losses to the Kings and Detroit, and he let his players know about it with a physical practice Sunday in San Jose. Los Angeles coach Terry Murray also had concerns about his team's effort, holding lengthy meetings with his players during Sunday's practice.
San Jose began the game with six of its NHL-high eight Olympians on the ice, showcasing the defending Pacific Division champions' enviable top-shelf talent.
Less than four minutes in, Boyle's shot from the point slipped between several players and through Ersberg's legs for the Canadian Olympian's ninth goal of another strong season.
Heatley then scored during a lengthy man-advantage early in the second period, batting his own rebound out of mid-air for the 26th goal of his debut season with San Jose. The star forward connected with the puck at about Ersberg's mask level, just low enough to avoid a high-sticking call.
Jones answered for Los Angeles 37 seconds later, scoring his first goal since Dec. 3 on a weak-side rebound.
Los Angeles failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage in the third period, and neither team had many juicy scoring chances in the final minutes.
NOTES: D Alec Martinez played a regular shift for the Kings in just his fourth game. He's been up and down from Los Angeles' AHL affiliate in Manchester, most recently getting sent down Saturday and recalled Sunday. ... Sharks LW John McCarthy played his second game of the season. ... Joe Thornton picked up his 48th assist on Heatley's goal.