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Pavelski helps Sharks extend win streak to seven

Nov 30, 2008 - 6:13 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The San Jose Sharks were not going to let the Phoenix Coyotes end another one of their extensive winning streaks.

Joe Pavelski scored two goals - including one that snapped a tie midway through the third period - and the Sharks overcame a two-goal deficit in a 3-2 victory over the Coyotes on Saturday.

Defenseman Rob Blake also tallied and Milan Michalek had two assists for the Sharks, who extended their winning streak to seven games.

"It is a combination of skill and then we have some grit combined with the skill," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "Our players are pulling in the same direction. They believe in what we set out to do in training camp and we have been getting some results, so our confidence is growing."

They lead the NHL with 92 goals and matched their season-best win streak, set from October 25-November 8. On November 9, however, the Coyotes skated to a 4-2 win to end the run.

"It was the opposite of the last time we were here," McLellan said. "The last time we had the lead early, this time they had it. We were fortunate that we scored on our first couple of shots to get us back in the game."

Blue-liner Derek Morris scored and Kyle Turris added a tally with the man advantage, but the Coyotes failed to score at least three goals for the 16th time in 23 games this season. They were outshot, 23-20, overall and by a 13-4 margin in the third.

The Sharks failed to score at least six goals for only the third time in their last seven games, but used a steady comeback to improve to 8-3-0 on the road.

Morris opened the scoring 28 seconds into the first and Turris followed with his second goal of the season three minutes later to give Phoenix a 2-0 lead.

"I thought we played really well, especially early in the game," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "We got up 2-0, they get two shots on net and that is not good enough. Quite frankly, that was the difference in the hockey game."

However, Pavelski struck 62 seconds later with a wrist shot from the slot that flew by the glove of Ilya Bryzgalov. Blake then fired a slap shot from above the right faceoff circle 71 seconds after Pavelski capitalized, sending Bryzgalov to the bench in favor of Mikael Tellqvist after facing only two shots.

"They got up to the two-goal lead and there was never any real panic," Pavelski said. "We knew we had to pick our game up and get after them a little more. We said it was our turn to come back.

"We have a lot of guys playing with a lot of confidence and they are working. That is the biggest thing. We know we can score goals and we know we have a good goalie, so this streak is going to happen sometimes."

Bryzgalov had not been pulled in 17 games this season.

Tellqvist's entry proved to be a good move on the part of Gretzky, but his team did not do enough to avoid its seventh loss in nine contests.

"They answered back pretty quickly and made it an even game," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "We had opportunities, but in the third, they picked up the intensity level. We played desperate at the end, but it was a little late.

"If we could hold on to the lead, it gives us momentum and energy. For them to get back so quickly, helps their bench a lot and erases the good start. We have to bury opportunities."

Pavelski took possession of a rebound in front of the net and tapped a rebound past a screened Tellqvist with 9:37 remaining in the third.

"He went to the net and found the garbage," McLellan said. "It was difficult to get shots through to their goalie but hen we did we seemed to get a stick on the second one and were lucky enough to put it in."

Starting his third straight game after missing seven due to a lower-body injury, Evgeni Nabokov turned aside 18 shots for the Sharks.

"Our goalie was excellent, despite those first two goals when he was clearly screened," McLellan said. "He stood his ground he reacted very well after that and had a lot of plays down the stretch."

The Sharks were without right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, who aggravated an upper-body injury in Friday's 6-2 win in Dallas.