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Big second period lifts Sharks over Blue Jackets

Feb 28, 2008 - 3:55 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist and the San Jose Sharks tallied three times in the second period to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, on Wednesday.

All-Stars Joe Thornton finished with two assists and Evgeni Nabokov made 17 saves for the Sharks (34-21-8, 76 points), who won their third straight game. The victory pushes the team into the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, one point ahead of the Calgary Flames (33-22-9, 75 points).

"It was a great team game tonight," Pavelski said. "We got a few goals from guys who haven't scored lately. We had scoring from all over and it was a pretty solid game start to finish tonight."

San Jose opened the scoring at 7:28 of the first period on a power-play goal by Jonathan Cheechoo. The native of Moose Factory, Ontario redirected a shot from Pavelski at the top of the crease, sending it between the pads of goaltender Pascal Leclaire.

"The puck wasn't coming that hard," Cheechoo said. "I just tried to get a stick on it. It was a shot where I knew I had time to get over and I just tried to get my body in front of him - I was fortunate it went in."

The Blue Jackets were playing their first game since veteran defensive leader Adam Foote was sent to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline on Tuesday.

"Our team had no emotion," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "They are in a state of shock and they are not out of it. It's going to take some time. We'll work to get out of it. You could see it in their eyes, you could see it in their faces, and you could see it in their play."

"The trades are over," Columbus' All-Star Rick Nash said. "We can't use that as excuses. Nothing is going to change. We've got to worry about who's here."

Columbus leveled the score late in the first when David Vyborny scored the first of his two goals at 14:56. Vyborny, who had not found the net in 25 games prior to Wednesday, scored on a rebound after Gilbert Brule took a shot from the right faceoff circle.

The puck went off Nabokov's glove and was loose in the crease, allowing Vyborny to put it in an open net.

Vyborny scored his second goal of the game on another rebound.

Defenseman Jan Hejda took the shot from the point and the rebound came to Vyborny at the top of the crease. Vyborny collected the puck and slid a backhand in past Nabokov from the left slot at 7:54.

For Vyborny, it was his fourth and fifth goals of the season and his first tallies since December 27 at Nashville.

"It was nice to finally score," Vyborny said. "I have been getting some good chances lately but haven't been able to get one - so it was nice to get a couple tonight."

"I think David is starting to play well," Hitchcock said.

The Sharks then scored three goals in just over eight minutes of play.

San Jose tied the game at 10:51 on a redirect in front by rookie Torrey Mitchell.

After a nice play by defenseman Matt Carle to keep the puck in the zone, Carle took a shot from the point which was redirected by Mitchell just inside the post.

"We had great efforts from Torrey Mitchell's line and Marcel Goc, with Jody Shelley," San Jose coach Ron Wilson said. "Every shift seemed to be a good shift, whether they got good solid forechecking or some shots on goal. It took a while for the other lines to really make an impact on the game."

The Sharks took the lead once again when veteran center Jeremy Roenick scored a power-play goal with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle at 13:57.

"When's the last time he had one?" Wilson said. "I'm glad he finally scored."

San Jose extended the lead when Pavelski skated into the zone and put a shot on net from the top of the right faceoff circle. The puck deflected off Columbus' Jiri Novotny and past Leclaire to cap the scoring.

"A lucky bounce, but I will take it," Pavelski said.

Two-time All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, acquired by the Sharks at the trade deadline from Buffalo, had an assist in his San Jose debut.

"It's going to take a while to get used to my partner," Campbell said. "I think for a defenseman, it might be a little easier. I am just going to skate and try and move the puck and I thought I took it easy tonight. Hopefully, I will feel a little more comfortable with a few more games. It was fun out there tonight."