SAN JOSE
– Three goals from defenseman Douglas Murray powered the San
Jose Sharks past the Anaheim Ducks 6-0 Friday night in front of
16,237 fans at HP Pavilion.
SAN JOSE – Three goals from defenseman Douglas Murray powered the San Jose Sharks past the Anaheim Ducks 6-0 Friday night in front of 16,237 fans at HP Pavilion.
San Jose (3-2-1) completes the pre-season schedule Saturday night in Glendale against the host Phoenix Coyotes. The Sharks open the 82-game NHL campaign Thursday in Colorado before taking on the host Ducks Saturday in Anaheim’s opener.
The Sharks skated away with a 1-0 lead after one period.
Murray, owner of seven assists in 75 games last season for San Jose, posted his first point of the pre-season when he one-timed a loose puck from the left boards inside the right post past Ducks goaltender Justin Pogge.
Defenseman Dan Boyle began the scoring play when he rocketed an open shot from the right point that Dany Heatley redirected in the slot toward the net. The puck caromed off the left post to the boards, providing the opportunity for Murray 14:46 into the game.
Murray made it 2-0 with 3:06 gone in the second period. Murray controlled the puck inside the Ducks’ blueline and used defenseman Steve Eminger as a shield to whip a 40-footer inside the left post. Rookie center Benn Ferriero moved into the lead in pre-season Sharks points with his second assist to go along with three goals.
San Jose grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the period on newcomer Manny Malhotra’s first goal of the pre-season. Signed by the Sharks Wednesday, Malhotra went scoreless in the club’s 4-3 shootout loss to Vancouver that night. When winger Jamie McGinn stole the puck from Duck Sheldon Brookbank behind the Anaheim net, Malhotra glided toward the right post and tapped in McGinn’s feed at the 9:47 mark.
San Jose completed the three-goal period when Ryane Clowe scored at the 12:18 mark. Boyle, earning his second assist of the game, slid a pass across the slot to an unmarked Clowe inside the left circle for the one-timer behind Pogge.
Murray earned the hat trick with a goal 2:42 into the third period.
Scott Nichol found Murray in the left-wing circle with a pass from behind the Anaheim net. Murray’s 20-footer found its way between the left post and Pogge for the 5-0 cushion.
San Jose completed the scoring at the 12:56 mark when Devin Setoguchi pocketed his second goal of the pre-season. Patrick Marleau, with the primary assist, joined Ferreiro with five points (2-3).
San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov turned back 15 Duck shots for his first shut-out of the pre-season. San Jose finished with 36 shots on net.
