Three teams are within one point of each other atop the Pacific
Division after the Dallas Stars trimmed the San Jose Sharks 4-2 at
sold-out HP Pavilion Thursday night.
Three teams are within one point of each other atop the Pacific Division after the Dallas Stars trimmed the San Jose Sharks 4-2 at sold-out HP Pavilion Thursday night.
Combined with a 2-1 Anaheim victory over Nashville, the Ducks assumed first place with 58 points and Dallas joined San Jose in second at 57.
The Sharks continue a four-game homestand with a game Saturday night against the Western Conference-pacing Detroit Red Wings. Chicago invades the Shark Tank Tuesday, St. Louis Thursday.
Mike Modano provided the visitors with the game-winner when he ripped a shot from the right-wing dot past a screened goalie Evgeni Nabokov at 12:54 of the third period. Dallas ended the suspense when Jeff Halpern scored his 10th goal of the season at the 17:51 mark.
The game marked the end of a five-game road trip for Dallas, earning five points with a pair of wins and one shoot-out loss.
Modano deposited his 13th goal of the season 14:51 into the second period to snap a 1-1 tie. Modano delivered the tie-breaker off a feed from behind the Sharks net by winger Loui Eriksson.
The Sharks responded with a goal 3:23 into the third period. Milan Michalek was able to keep the puck inside the Dallas zone, then threaded a set-up pass to a streaking Joe Thornton at the left point for a hard shot that clipped off the stick of Dallas defender Matt Niskanen and into the net.
The loss left the Sharks with a 9-10-4 home record. Only Montreal, with eight, has fewer home victories this season. Fortunately for the Sharks, a 16-4-3 mark on the road allows the club to battle for a top spot in the Stanley Cup Playoff chase.
Michalek extended his team-leading goal total to 16 when he pounced on a loose puck in the slot and one-timed a 10-footer past goalie Marty Turco at 6:11 of the first period.
The Stars pulled even at 1-1 with a 2-on-1 rush that Niklas Hagman made count with a goal underneath the pads of Nabokov at 10:47 of the first.
