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Grier, Goc lift Sharks over Canucks

Sep 27, 2006 - 4:41 AM VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- Even though it is just the preseason, Mike Grier already is making his presence felt with the San Jose Sharks.

Grier scored the decisive power-play goal and Marcel Goc had two assists to lead the Sharks to a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

A right wing who signed as a free agent on July 3 after two seasons with Buffalo, Grier scored when he swept Goc's rebound past netminder Roberto Luongo with 54 seconds left in the first period.

Ville Nieminen's empty-net goal capped the scoring with 13 seconds left in the third period.

Vesa Toskala, engaged in a battle with Evgeni Nabokov for the Sharks' starting goaltender job, stopped 25 shots to record the shutout.

Toskala was a 23-7-4 with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage last season. He started all 11 playoff games for San Jose, going 6-5 with a 2.45 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

Luongo, acquired from Florida in the high-profile, five-player trade involving Todd Bertuzzi over the summer, made 26 saves.

San Jose's Joe Thornton, the reigning Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner, did not play. Linemate Jonathan Cheechoo, the Maurice Richard Trophy winner last season, also did not suit up.