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Guerin records hat trick as Sharks pound Blackhawks

Mar 14, 2007 - 7:03 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Bill Guerin finally made his presence felt with the San Jose Sharks, and in a big way.

Guerin recorded his eighth career hat trick and added an assist as the Sharks posted an easy 7-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The right wing, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues on February 27, entered without a point in his first six games with the Sharks.

"I felt relieved," said Guerin, a 10-time 20-goal scorer. "It was getting a little ridiculous. I felt good to just get one."

"It was only a matter of time for him getting used to his linemates and the puck going into the net," San Jose coach Ron Wilson said. "A couple of the shots, it just goes to show you he had better chances in other games than he actually had tonight, but the puck didn't go in. Tonight, he found some holes and they went in."

The veteran scored the first and last of six consecutive goals by San Jose, and after Chicago's Martin Lapointe spoiled Evgeni Nabokov's shutout bid late in the third, he completed his second hat trick of the season by backhanding the puck between goaltender Patrick Lalime's pads on a penalty shot with 13 seconds remaining in the game.

"That's the first penalty shot in my career, and honestly, I was surprised," Guerin said. "But hey, I'll take it. I was a little nervous since it was my first, but I'll take the result."

Guerin gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 7:04 of the first period, when he tapped the puck from the bottom of the right faceoff circle between Lalime's pads. He netted his second of the game at 13:05 of the third period on the power play.

San Jose center Joe Thornton knew Guerin eventually would start to produce.

"Obviously, it was just a matter of time," Thornton said. "He's had a lot of great scoring chances, and for a goal scorer like that, you keep on shooting the puck and eventually it'll go into the net. We're all glad he got the big piano off his back, and now he'll hopefully score a lot more goals for us."

Thornton had a goal and two assists and Nabokov made 18 saves in his 13th consecutive start for the Sharks (42-25-3), who climbed within eight points of the idle Anaheim Ducks (42-17-11) for first place in the Pacific Division.

A former Calder Trophy winner, Nabokov is 4-0-1 with three goals allowed in his last five starts.

"Nabby's playing very well," Wilson said. "He's focused and making big saves for us."

Thornton has assists in four straight games and a total of 72 this season, two behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead.

Milan Michalek had a goal and an assist while Mark Bell and Mike Grier also scored for San Jose, which improved to 6-3-2 in its last 11 contests.

Bell, who had a career-high 25 goals with the Blackhawks last season, scored his ninth at 10:42 of the first period, when he picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat Lalime to the glove side for a 2-0 lead.

"I felt good and strong out there and good on my skates," Bell said. "I felt very comfortable playing with (Patrick Marleau and Guerin), and we had our chances and could have had a lot more."

"Bell played great," Guerin said. "We need him to be a big player in the next couple of weeks and going into the playoffs, and he's ready to do that. He had a great game."

Lalime made 28 saves for the Blackhawks, who were seeking their season-high fourth straight victory.

"It is definitely disappointing," Lalime said. "We played well the last three games and before that. Tonight, the other team was better than us, especially in the first period. They set the tone."