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Nabokov shines in goal as Sharks silence Coyotes

Jan 30, 2009 - 7:55 AM By Michael Duca PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Evgeni Nabokov is proving it was a mistake to leave him off the Western Conference's All-Star roster.

Nabokov made 24 saves and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff scored a power-play goal in the second period to help the San Jose Sharks blank the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-0, on Thursday.

Marcel Goc added an empty-netter with 15 seconds remaining in the third for the Sharks, who have won four straight and seven of their last eight.

Nabokov turned aside seven shots in the first and third periods and stopped 10 shots in the second to notch his fourth shutout of the season and 44th career. The 33-year-old also set a franchise record of 170 minutes, 10 seconds without surrendering a goal.

The two-time All-Star, who was left off this year's team, broke his own mark of 166:07, which he set from March 2-9, 2007.

"It was a battle," Nabokov said. "They were matching us pretty good. I thought we were ready to play. The games are different now, they are tighter, and we have to adjust. We did adjust in these two games after the break."

Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 27 shots for the Coyotes, who have lost two in a row.

"I thought our guys played their hearts out," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "We got beat with an empty-net goal and we had some chances. Nabokov was Nabokov, and I thought Bryzgalov was outstanding. I thought it was just a really good hockey game every which way."

The Sharks improved to 23-1-2 at HP Pavilion this season.

"It's a team effort," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "Obviously, (Nabokov has) been terrific, and in the last two games, he's been as sharp as he has been all year. But the other players around him did a real good job of controlling second chances."

In a tightly played first period, San Jose appeared to snap the scoreless tie at 11:35. But a video review showed that Ryane Clowe kicked the puck behind Bryzgalov with the toe of his right skate, and the goal was disallowed.

"Actually, I thought it was going to stay," Clowe said. "The refs both said it was a good goal, he's just got to check. I thought it was going to stay because I had no idea it hit my foot. I was cutting across the crease and it hit me up by the laces.

"I watched the replay and I could see I was dragging my foot, and it looked like a kicking motion, so I see why they overturned it."

With Coyotes enforcer Todd Fedoruk in the box for a delay-of-game penalty, the Sharks converted on their third man-advantage opportunity. Ehrhoff took a pass from captain Patrick Marleau, who collected the rebound of Devin Setoguchi's shot, and slapped it past Bryzgalov at 5:59 of the middle session for a 1-0 edge.

"Bryzgalov made a great save," the German Ehrhoff said. "(Marleau) got to the rebound, and I was hoping he'd give me the puck. I shot it at the net, it hit their guy's stick and went in."

Phoenix, meanwhile, was unsuccessful on four power-play opportunities over the first 40 minutes of play.

The third period began with the Coyotes enjoying a man advantage for 41 seconds, but they also were unable to convert on that power play. Phoenix's power-play unit entered the game ranked 29th in the NHL but had been successful on three of its previous 11 chances.

"We didn't capitalize on our power plays," said Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who entered needing two points for 600 in his career. "They got one and we didn't, and that was the difference in the game. Specialty teams are so important, and we knew that. Our power play has to be better than what it was."

The Coyotes had one final chance with the extra skater as Sharks defenseman Rob Blake was whistled for hooking rookie Kyle Turris with 2:10 remaining in the game, leaving one of San Jose's most prolific penalty-killers in the box.

Phoenix also pulled Bryzgalov to set up a 6-on-4 but nearly was burned as Joe Pavelski and Mike Grier each struck iron on their attempts to deposit the puck into the empty net.

"You could put 100 pucks out there and I don't think you'd see that again," Ehrhoff said.

But the third time was a charm for the Sharks as Goc - also from Germany - sealed the victory by taking a pass from Clowe and netting his second goal of the season in the waning seconds.

"Secondary scoring is essential to winning a championship," McLellan said. "You have to find it from somewhere, and it was the all-German team tonight."