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Niemi, Sharks shut out Bruins

Feb 6, 2011 - 3:23 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Antti Niemi stopped all 26 shots he faced to record his third shutout of the season, as San Jose nipped Boston, 2-0, at TD Garden.

Logan Couture and Devin Setoguchi tallied for the Sharks, who blanked the Bruins for the first time in franchise history and recorded their seventh win in their last eight games.

On some nights we get 45 shots, and others are like this," said Sharks forward Joe Thornton. "For whatever reason, they just kept us on the outside. Still, it was a good win."

Tim Thomas was the hard-luck loser with 16 saves for the Bruins, whose three- game win streak came to an end.

San Jose tallied the game's first goal on a power play. Ryane Clowe carried down the left wing and dished into the slot for Couture, who beat Thomas with a backhand at 7:22 of the opening period.

The Sharks had a goal waved off with just over 7 1/2 minutes played in the second period, when Ben Eager clearly interfered with Thomas, but Niemi remained strong to keep the Bruins at bay.

He made eight stops in the first period, then 10 in the second before finishing with eight more saves in the third.

Setoguchi hit the empty net with three seconds remaining to officially wrap up the victory.

"They won more battles for the puck than we did and that's where I thought the game was decided," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I don't think we played a bad game. We need to get better along the boards."

Game Notes

Clowe notched two assists for San Jose...Prior to the game, the Sharks recalled forward John McCarthy and goaltender Carter Hutton from Worcester of the AHL...San Jose has won its last three games in Boston after going winless in its first 10 trips there (0-7-3) since entering the NHL in 1991.