n By Bob Burch Staff Writer
San Jose – The San Jose Sharks were in control the entire game in routing the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 in front of 16,717 NHL fans at HP Pavilion.
The win enabled the Sharks (22-9, 44 points) to climb within eight points of the pace-setting Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division. San Jose visits the Los Angeles Kings tonight before beginning a six-game homestand Thursday against the Kings.
Captain Patrick Marleau played in his 671st game for the Sharks, tying Mike Rathje’s franchise record. The 27-year-old celebrated the mark with three assists, leaving him one behind Owen Nolan for the franchise mark in that category.
San Jose entered play with the second-best power play in the league. Given six power plays in the first period, the Sharks were able to open the scoring with a 5-on-3 effort 18:31 into action.
As both Jeremy Roenick and Zbynek Michalek sat in the Coyotes penalty box, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead when Milan Michalek wristed home a 15-footer past veteran goalie Curtis Joseph. Marleau skated behind the net to collect the puck and then push it into the slot. The puck glanced off Joe Thornton’s stick before dropping in front of Michalek for the game-winner. Sharks goalie Vesa Toskala was instrumental in igniting the scoring play, rushing to pick off a Phoenix dump-in and quickly forwarding the puck to Thornton at the Coyote blueline.
San Jose finished the first 20 minutes with 22 shots on net, including a franchise-tying six shots in a period by Thornton.
Both teams put eight shots on net in the second period, although only San Jose found the back of the net again as Steve Bernier and Joe Pavelski posted goals.
The Sharks were at even strength when Bernier made it 2-0 with 15:31 elapsed in the period.
Nolan, in his first year with the Coyotes, tried to find a teammate from behind the Sharks net with a pass. Instead, Milan Michalek scooped up the puck and began a 4-on-2 rush toward Joseph. Marleau carried the puck along the left boards, then found Bernier available near the goalline for the 10-footer over Joseph’s shoulder.
San Jose converted its second power play of the period at the 17:41 mark.
Marleau controlled the puck at the Coyotes blueline before finding Thornton at the top of the right-wing circle. The reigning league MVP boomed a shot toward the net that Pavelski deflected past Joseph for the 3-0 margin. Pavelski has five goals in nine career NHL games.
Thornton garnered his third assist of the night 4:19 into the third period. Thornton dished the puck to Curtis Brown at the right-wing dot. The winger calmly jammed the puck over the shoulder of a sliding Joseph for his sixth goal of the season.
Thornton, earning points on eight of the last nine Sharks goals in a three-game span, moved into the top 15 in NHL scoring with 35 points, trailing pace-setter Jaromir Jagr by nine.
Toskala earned his third shutout of the season and seventh of his career.
