McCauley nets two goals in San Jose’s latest victory
SAN JOSE – Alyn McCauley’s two goals backed up the shut-out goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov Saturday as the San Jose Sharks strengthened hold on the Pacific Division with a 4-0 nod over the Minnesota Wild at sold-out HP Pavilion.
After teammates Niko Dimitrakos and Wayne Primeau built a 2-0 lead with goals in the first and second periods, McCauley iced the win with his 12th and 13th goals of the campaign. The 26-year-old center established a career best of 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) on the way to being the game’s First Star.
“We seemed to be hitting on all cylinders,” said San Jose coach Ron Wilson. “It was a good effort from everybody. We dominated in virtually every category. Nabby was magic, made some great saves.”
San Jose solidified its second spot in the league on penalty-killing by deflating both Wild opportunities in the third period. The Sharks, only 25th on the power play entering the game, clicked for one power play goal on its fourth try, McCauley turning a Kyle McLaren pass into a 30-foot shot that found the cage at the 3:55 mark of the third period.
“That’s something we hadn’t been doing, shooting from the flank,” Wilson said of recent (0-for-28) power play failure. “On the power plays in the third period, there was no pressure to score,” since San Jose held a 3-0 lead during all four power play series.
“We shot the puck a lot more on the power play,” added McCauley. “This was a much better effort for a full game. We kept it coming.”
Dimitrakos established a career best in points (6 goals, 11 assists for 17 points) when he beat Wild goalie Manny Fernandez on a 2-on-1 rush 3:22 into play.
Linemate Todd Harvey began the play with a head-man pass to Dimitrakos at the Wild blueline. As Wayne Primeau took the left wing position against the lone Wild defenseman, Dimitrakos sped around toward Fernandez, then faked the goalie before pulling the puck into the crease and inside the goalpost with a slick backhand move.
“As Prims went to the net, I dipped my shoulder and made a little move,” Dimitrakos said. “I let (Fernandez) react and he bit on it. If he would have sat back, I probably would have shot it.”
Primeau made it 2-0 with 14:10 gone in the second when he redirected home a blast from the left point by Christian Ehrhoff. Harvey, who won the face-off at the 14:06 mark, earned the assist for his first multiple-point game of the season.
“Harv’s chipping in, playing desperate every night,” said Wilson. “He wants to stay in the line-up.”
McCauley gave the hosts a 3-0 cushion 12:17 into the second period when he followed up a rebound of a Tom Preissing shot with a flip over Fernandez’ shoulder from 10 feet out.
Nabokov registered 24 saves in earning his fifth shut-out this season.
San Jose takes on the Calgary Flames at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at HP Pavilion.
