SAN JOSE
– Evgeni Nabokov’s San Jose franchise record shutout streak of
170:10 lasted only another 48 seconds into Saturday night’s game
with the Chicago Blackhawks, a clue that the night would not find
the Sharks earning their 24th home win in 27 tries this season.
SAN JOSE – Evgeni Nabokov’s San Jose franchise record shutout streak of 170:10 lasted only another 48 seconds into Saturday night’s game with the Chicago Blackhawks, a clue that the night would not find the Sharks earning their 24th home win in 27 tries this season.
The Blackhawks scored twice in the second period to snap a 1-1 tie on the way to a 4-2 win over San Jose at sold-out HP Pavilion.
Chicago had been winless (0-10-3) in 13 straight games against the Sharks. Chicago’s last victory against the Sharks came on Oct. 7, 2005, a 6-3 nod at the United Center.
San Jose suffered its second regulation loss at home. Chicago improved to 62 points in fourth place in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks took the 1-0 lead when captain Jonathan Toews buried a long rebound of an Andrew Ladd slapshot, beating Nabokov from the right face-off circle. A delayed penalty against the Sharks had been called, leading to defenseman Brian Campbell setting up the scoring play.
Chicago appeared to have a 2-0 lead at 10:59 of the first period when Dave Bolland delivered a long shot past Nabokov after a long rebound of a Martin Havlat shot. The goal was disallowed when a linesman reported to the referees that a double-minor penalty was earned by Kris Versteeg before the goal was scored. Versteeg was whistled for high-sticking Shark Jonathan Cheechoo.
San Jose pulled even at 1-1 when Christian Ehrhoff ripped a power-play goal from the high slot off a feed from Ryane Clowe. Ehrhoff’s blast deflected off the stick of Versteeg and past goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.
Chicago’s second penalty led to a shorthanded goal by Versteeg. Blackhawk Duncan Keith was penalized for slashing San Jose’s Devin Setoguchi at 6:58 of the second period. Bolland intercepted an Ehrhoff shot near the blueline and sped past both defenders toward the San Jose net. Ehrhoff’s hook of Bolland led to an unsuccessful shot by Bolland, but Versteeg followed the play and stuffed in the rebound at 7:56.
Toews notched his second goal of the night and 16th of the season when he snapped a 10-footer over Nabokov’s shoulder from the left flank on a Chicago power play at 16:15.
The teams traded goals within a 10-second span of the third period.
Keith lined a shot from the top of the left circle over Nabokov’s left shoulder and into the top corner of the net at 14:34 during a power play.
San Jose won the next face-off and Joe Pavelski’s pass to Milan Michalek set up a breakaway goal at 14:44, Michalek’s 14th of the year.
San Jose, 7-2 over the past nine games, hosts Carolina Thursday before starting a five-game roadtrip Saturday in Columbus. The Sharks trail Boston by one point in the race for the President’s Cup and lead Anaheim by 22 points in the Pacific Division chase.
