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Marleau extends points streak in Sharks' win over Coyotes

Jan 19, 2007 - 7:48 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Captain Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe continue to lead the San Jose Sharks to victories.

Marleau scored a goal and set up two others and Clowe also had a tally and two assists as the Sharks posted their seventh win in eight games, a 5-2 triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes.

The victory was San Jose's second in four nights against the Coyotes, who dropped a 4-1 decision at home on Saturday.

"I think we're getting a little swagger in our step now, getting back to the way we got out of the gate," San Jose rookie defenseman Matt Carle said. "The game could have easily gone either way after their first goal. We had two guys, Rob Davison and Doug Murray, step up and play physically. It kind of woke the team up, and things went from there."

"That was a physical hockey game," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "Our guys played their hearts out tonight. San Jose is a very good hockey club. They've got some great hockey players over there, and we had a great team effort and a team commitment tonight. That goes a long way."

With the Sharks trailing, 1-0, Marleau forged a tie with 6:03 remaining in the first period by tipping rookie defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's pass by goaltender Mikael Tellqvist. The tally, which was his third in four games, extended the All-Star's points streak to eight contests.

Clowe gave San Jose a 3-1 lead midway through the second period with his ninth goal in seven games. During the span, the 24-year-old has recorded his first career hat trick and a pair of two-goal performances.

Clowe scored by redirecting All-Star Joe Thornton's backhand pass past Tellqvist at 9:52 of the second period.

"Joe was coming from behind. I saw him late and I gave it to him," Clowe said. "As soon as I gave it to him, I opened up and knew I was going to get it back. It turned out to be a good play."

The Coyotes sliced the deficit to 3-2 early in the third as defenseman Travis Roche cut into the slot, took a pass from Jeremy Roenick and blasted a shot past netminder Vesa Toskala at 5:16.

But the Sharks regained their two-goal advantage just over five minutes later, when Carle's shot from the left point sailed past a screened Tellqvist. Thornton sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Thornton, who has three goals and 12 assists in his last eight games, has recorded two tallies and 10 points in his last six meetings with Phoenix.

Milan Michalek, who entered with only one goal in his previous nine games, gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead just 1:52 into the second period, when he jammed a rebound past Tellqvist during a scramble in front of the net.

"You can't always be waiting for Joe or Patty to make a big play," Davison said. "Obviously, they are the best players on our team, but everyone needs to chip in however they can."

Fredrik Sjostrom scored the other goal for the Coyotes, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

"I think we played pretty well as a team today, but obviously, it wasn't enough," Sjostrom said. "They're a very good team and they scored some big goals, and that was the difference today."

Toskala, who finished with 23 saves, extended his winning streak to six games. He has allowed only 10 goals during the run.