n By Bob Burch Staff Writer
San Jose – The San Jose Sharks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Quarterfinals Tuesday with a comeback 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators at sold-out HP Pavilion at San Jose.
The teams play again Thursday before moving to Nashville for the fifth game of the best 4-of-7 series on Sunday.
“I’m very proud of the way they just kept on going,” said San Jose coach Ron Wilson about the Sharks’ effort. “We got a couple of great saves at the right time from Vesa (Toskala). We tried to wear down their defense a little bit.”
Nashville, yet to score an even strength goal in three games against Sharks’ goalie Vesa Toskala, managed to take a 1-0 lead in the first period on a short-handed tally.
Predator defenseman Mark Eaton was in the penalty box for hooking Joe Thornton when Nashville pounced on a loose puck inside its own zone to create a 3-on-1 break. Only defenseman Tom Preissing was back in the Sharks zone when Nashville captain Greg Johnson raced in along the right boards with Kimmo Timonen on the left side of the rush, Jerred Smithson in the middle.
Preissing finally had to take Johnson, leaving Smithson to move in front of Toskala. Timonen took Johnson’s cross-ice pass for the successful one-timer to the left of the screened Toskala at 6:33.
The Sharks were able to respond with one even-strength goal and a power-play goal in the second period, following up a 14-5 shots on net edge in the first period with an 11-8 cushion in the second.
San Jose captain Patrick Marleau made the tying goal. The center collected a short pass from defenseman Christian Ehrhoff in the San Jose zone, then went across two blue lines before skidding to the side of defenseman Brendan Whitt and rifling a 20-footer just inside the left post to foil goalie Chris Mason at 12:10.
The Sharks’ fifth power play of the series made it a 2-1 with 1:12 left in the second period.
Eaton again sat in the penalty box late in the period for tripping Steve Bernier. Only 10 seconds remained in the power-play when Bernier set up near the left Nashville post, signaling with his stick held high. Ehrhoff whistled a shot from the left point that was rebuffed just short of the crease. A soft rebound went to a waiting Bernier for the simple put-back inside an open net.
The Sharks put an emphatic cap to the win with two goals from likely sources in the third period, dominating play with a 15-4 edge in shots on net.
Jonathan Cheechoo, the top goal-scorer this season for the NHL, delivered his second goal of the series at 15:38. The winger controlled the puck from the redline to the top of the right circle before lining a shot that dribbled through the pads of Mason and into the net.
Marleau netted his second goal of the game at the 16:45 mark. Marleau dipped around one defenseman and bore in on Mason before stuffing the puck under the goalie at point-blank range.
Joe Thornton drew several penalties and set the tempo in the third period with two dazzling offensive moves, although neither resulted in a goal.
“Thornton, even though he’s not getting points, is totally controlling the game on the ice,” said Wilson of the league’s top scorer. “He’s very dedicated right now. It’s almost like there’s a beast out there and you’re not going to take the puck from him.”
While Marleau was named the game’s First Star, Ehrhoff earned three assists as the Second Star.
San Jose finished with a 40-17 edge in shots, going on nine power plays to four for the visitors.
