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Sharks G Nabokov aims for another shutout

Mar 13, 2007 - 3:20 PM Chicago (26-33-9) at San Jose (41-25-3) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Evgeni Nabokov has taken full advantage of his opportunity to be the San Jose Sharks' top goaltender.

After recording shutouts in three of his last four outings, Nabokov looks to keep the Sharks in the hunt for a higher playoff seed Tuesday, when they conclude a three-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nabokov has made 12 consecutive starts after Vesa Toskala was sidelined with a groin injury. Although Nabokov is just 5-5-2 since then, he has been dominant of late, allowing just two goals on 11 shots in his last four contests.

After blanking the Dallas Stars on March 4 and the Minnesota Wild two days later, Nabokov gave up two tallies in last Friday's overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Undeterred, Nabokov turned aside 22 shots in Sunday's 3-0 triumph over the slumping Edmonton Oilers. The victory ended a four-game home losing streak and left San Jose in a three-way tie with Dallas and Minnesota for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Among Nabokov's seven shutouts this season was a 2-0 triumph over the Blackhawks on February 22. It was San Jose's second victory in as many meetings against Chicago in 2006-2007.

Playing the second contest of a five-game road swing, the Blackhawks have 14 tallies in their last three games, but remain 14th in the conference in goals (172).

Chicago is coming off Saturday's 7-5 triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes. Jeff Hamilton recorded his second career hat trick and added a pair of assists for the Blackhawks.