SAN JOSE
– Antti Niemi was last seen on the ice at HP Pavilion leading
the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-0
Western Conference Finals series lead over the San Jose Sharks last
spring.
SAN JOSE – Antti Niemi was last seen on the ice at HP Pavilion leading the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-0 Western Conference Finals series lead over the San Jose Sharks last spring.
Niemi was back in the pipes Friday night, this time representing the Sharks in a pre-season showdown with the Anaheim Ducks. Niemi worked the first two periods, making 11 saves. Anaheim emerged with a 5-4 victory and a 2-0 sweep of the weekend series in front of an announced crowd of 15,872.
Niemi had little help in the first period during a 5-on-3 Anaheim power play. Duck Corey Perry set up at the edge of the crease unmarked behind the San Jose defense, easily tapping in Ryan Getzlaf’s feed from the left circle 4:15 into the first period.
While down one skater, the Sharks dropped behind 2-0 when Jake Newton scored off a Getzlaf pass at the 5:29 mark.
Joe Pavelski assisted on two goals as the Sharks were able to even the score by the 8:29 mark of the second period.
Dany Heatley scored the first San Jose goal when his soft shot from the right circle caromed off the skate of Anaheim’s Sheldon Brookbank and past goalie Curtis McElhinney at 19:43 of the first period.
Pavelski slipped a head-man pass to John McCarthy behind the Anaheim defense during a Duck power play. McCarthy’s breakaway goal into the top left corner of the net came at 8:29 of the second period.
Perry gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead after two periods when his power play blast from the left flank beat Niemi 9:25 into the second.
After San Jose’s Tommy Wiggels scored off a rebound of a Sean Sullivan shot 54 seconds into the third period, Perry completed his power play hat trick with a goal from 15 feet out into the top left corner of the net past goalie Harri Sateri at 4:36.
San Jose managed one more tying goal when Torrey Mitchell followed teammate Jamal Mayers to the net and chipped the puck past goalie Timo Pielmeier at the 7:17 mark.
Jason Blake took advantage of a Sharks turnover behind the San Jose goal to feed Dan Sexton in the low slot for the game-winning goal at 15:00.
One-half of the Sharks squad will play against the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night at HP Pavilion, while the second half plays the Coyotes in Scottsdale.
