San Jose goes 0-for-4 on powerplay in 2-1 home loss to
Phoenix
SAN JOSE – The Phoenix Coyotes scored twice in the second period to defeat the host San Jose Sharks 2-1 in front of 14,544 fans at HP Pavilion.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak by San Jose, the leader of the Pacific Division by eight points through 49 games. The Sharks host Minnesota Saturday, then Calgary Wednesday.
“(The Coyotes) were hungry for 5-6 minutes in the second period and that’s all it took,” said San Jose coach Ron Wilson of the decisive portion of the contest. “There were a couple of sloppy plays in the second period.”
The Sharks posted a 35-20 edge in shots on net. Brian Boucher, who just weeks ago forged an NHL record 332:01 minutes of shut-out hockey, turned back 34 San Jose shots.
“Their goalie played great,” acknowledged Wilson. “Boucher was the difference, it’s as simple as that.”
Evgeni Nabokov slipped to 12-12-7 because of goals from Mike Sillinger and Ladislav Nagy in a span of 7:08 in the second period.
The first scoring play began when Coyote center Jeff Taffe drove the slot toward Nabokov, then slapped the puck into the goalie’s chest. The short rebound was gobbled up by a streaking Sillinger for the put-back goal at the 4:41 mark. The goal net appeared to come off its pegs as Sillinger’s shot reached the goal line, but no reversal of the call on the ice came from the video goal judge.
Wayne Primeau drew the Sharks even with a goal at 8:40. The fourth line combination of Todd Harvey, Niko Dimitrakos and Primeau continued its hot hand recently, Primeau redirecting Dimitrakos’ centering pass from the left boards past Boucher.
Nagy shook off Sharks defenseman Scott Hannan behind the San Jose net, then spun toward the right circle and pulled a shot to the short side to beat Nabokov at 11:49 for the 2-1 difference. Nagy used San Jose defenseman Brad Stuart and Phoenix forward Branko Radivojevic to create enough distance frm Hannan to deliver the game-winner.
“That second goal was kind of a fluke,” said Primeau. “Nagy made a good play by turning and shooting.”
San Jose went 0-for-4 on the power play, leaving the hosts with an 0-for-25 streak.
“We’ve had some chances, but we don’t move the puck with authority,” Wilson said of the man-advantage opportunities. “We’re not making good decisions coming up the ice.”
Wilson added thar Christian Ehrhoff, a healthy scratch the past three games, will play Saturday and be involved in the Sharks power play unit.
Captain Patrick Marleau was named to the Western All-Star team Thursday night. The 24-year-old center will make his first all-star appearance Feb. 8 in Minnesota. He has 301 points in 525 career games.
