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Sharks still eyeing first win on road trip

Feb 20, 2008 - 11:59 AM San Jose (31-20-8) at New Jersey (34-21-5) 7:00 pm EST

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The San Jose Sharks continue their longest road trip of the season when they face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

The Sharks have dropped the first two contests of an eight-game trip that concludes March 1 in St. Louis. San Jose started the season with a 16-3-2 road record, but is 1-4-1 since in its last six games.

Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has 31 wins and a 2.22 goals-against average, but was hit with a shot which broke his mask and bloodied his face midway through Monday's 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders.

San Jose has lost four consecutive games overall and scored just five goals in the last three contests. The Sharks assigned center Mike Iggulden to Worcester of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, a move that is expected to clear the way for captain Patrick Marleau to return.

Marleau has missed four games since straining his groin against Nashville on February 9.

The Devils are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins atop the Atlantic Division.

"We're not satisfied," New Jersey coach Brent Sutter said. "We have to plug away here, every game is a big game. ... The standings will take care of themselves as long as we stay focused as a team."