• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nabokov hopes to help Sharks bounce back

Jan 15, 2008 - 3:28 PM San Jose (25-12-7) at Phoenix (23-20-1) 9:30 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - The San Jose Sharks really did miss Evgeni Nabokov.

Nabokov will be back in the crease Tuesday night when the Sharks visit the Phoenix Coyotes in a matchup of Pacific Division rivals.

With Nabokov sitting out his first game of the season, Anaheim finally got to rookie Thomas Greiss to snap the San Jose's 10-game road winning streak. Nabokov had started all 43 Shark games this season - and 49 in a row dating back to last season.

The 21-year-old Greiss had 25 saves in his first NHL appearance, but he surrendered the tying goal with 28 ticks left in the third period and the game-winner just 33 seconds into overtime in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Nabokov already has three shutouts against the Coyotes this season, posting a 4-0-1 record with a 0.59 goals-against average and .976 save percentage in five meetings.

Phoenix has an NHL-worst 8-10-1 record at home this season.

Despite suffering a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, the Coyotes have won six of their previous eight contests.

Captain Shane Doan leads the club with 27 assists and 39 points on the season.