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Nash's hat trick leads Jackets over Sharks

Nov 21, 2010 - 7:31 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Rick Nash scored all three Columbus goals and Mathieu Garon stopped all 35 shots he faced, as the Blue Jackets completed a California sweep with a 3-0 victory over the Sharks in San Jose.

The Blue Jackets won in Los Angeles on Wednesday before beating the Ducks in Anaheim on Friday. Saturday's victory -- the first regulation win in San Jose in team history -- wrapped up the successful road trip.

Nash's hat trick was his first of the season, while Garon posted his third shutout.

"He was unbelievable tonight," Nash said. "They have one of the best power plays in the league, and some three or four, even five guys, off the top of my head that are top snipers, and he stopped them. He was a huge part of that win."

Antero Niittymaki made 24 saves for the Sharks, who have dropped three in a row.

"I don't know if I've seen a team mishandle good passes, passes on the tape, breakout opportunities, pucks in the offensive zone, three-on-twos, four-on- two rushes where we end up back-checking off them," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. "And that's very disturbing."

The Blue Jackets went on the power play only 2:50 into the game, after Sharks winger Jamal Mayers earned a holding minor, and Nash cashed in. Derick Brassard controlled the puck in the right circle and sent a pass to the left, where Nash fired a wrister that beat Niittymaki low to the glove side.

Garon made 15 saves in the period to hold the lead, and Nash netted his second late in the middle period. On an odd-man rush, Jakub Voracek got the puck to Nash, who skated behind the net from the left side, then unloaded a shot from a sharp angle on the right side.

The high shot hit the underside of the net and bounced into Niittymaki's glove, and wasn't initially called a goal. But after a short review, the goal stood to make it a 2-0 game with 4:05 left in the period.

Garon maintained the lead with nine saves in the period and stopped another 11 shots in the third.

Nash completed his hat trick in the final minute after the Sharks pulled Niittymaki. He took the puck in the neutral zone after San Jose defenseman Dan Boyle lost control, raced into the Sharks' end unimpeded and put a shot in the empty net.

Game Notes

Nash's hat trick was the fifth of his career...Garon recorded his 19th career shutout...The Blue Jackets have won two of the three meetings with San Jose this season. The teams opened the year by splitting a pair of contests in Stockholm.