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Thornton helps Sharks continue torrid pace

Mar 28, 2008 - 7:35 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars are in quite a funk. The same cannot be said about the San Jose Sharks.

Joe Thornton tied the game early in the third period and scored a power-play goal at 2:58 of overtime, giving the Sharks a 3-2 victory over the Stars on Thursday.

Joe Pavelski also tallied for San Jose, which extended its streak of earning at least one point to 17 games (15-0-2). The Sharks (46-21-10) also expanded their lead in the Pacific Division over the idle Anaheim Ducks (44-26-8) to six points.

San Jose also clinched home ice for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"We've been playing real good hockey to put ourselves in this position, and we just need to continue," Thornton said. "We've played great at home lately, so it will be good to have home ice for the first little bit (of the playoffs). Now we have to keep going to get that second spot (in the Western Conference). We're not satisfied just having home ice in the first round."

"We love playing at home, and this building gets loud during the playoffs," Sharks defenseman Doug Murray added. "We've gotten on a good run the past few weeks, and now we want to finish it off."

Captain Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen netted goals for Dallas (42-29-6), which fell to 0-4-1 in its last five games but pulled even in points with idle Calgary (40-27-10) for fifth place in the West.

In overtime, the Stars got into penalty trouble as goaltender Marty Turco was given a double-minor for high-sticking at 1:15 and defenseman Trevor Daley was whistled for hooking 91 seconds later.

Mike Modano nearly gave Dallas the win anyway as he raced in on a shorthanded breakaway with 3:10 remaining. His initial shot was stopped by All-Star goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, but the puck rolled behind the net, and Modano regained possession and attempted to stuff it inside the left goalpost while on his backhand.

However, Nabokov was able to get his stick there in time and kept the puck from crossing the goal line, pulling it away while Modano raised his arms in triumph.

"It was a kind of desperation move, but I don't know if it was a save or just luck," Nabokov said. "I just tried to put the stick on it. I gave him the empty net and I kind of got lucky. At that point, you're just trying to do your best. You don't have much time to think or communicate, you just react, and you hope you react right."

"It's a game of inches," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "(Modano) thinks it's in, but it's not. That's kind of where we are right now."

Nabokov's ability to pull the puck away from the goal line amazed even his teammates.

"I don't know how he pulled that out," Thornton said of Nabokov. "But it gave us a chance to get that extra point. What a play."

Modano's breakaway became possible when San Jose defenseman Brian Campbell fell at the right point, creating an open lane.

"I should have warned Brian Campbell, 'Be very careful with Modano out there, they'll try to score,'" Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "Brian fell down and Mo went to his favorite move where he looks like he's going across and throws it short side. Nabby had the presence of mind to get his stick there. If Mo had hung around instead of starting his celebration, they would have scored there."

Still on a 5-on-3 power play, the Sharks cashed in to improve to 6-0-1 in their last seven home games. From along the end line on the right side, Thornton made a crisp pass intended for captain Patrick Marleau that caromed off a defender and past Turco for his 26th goal of the season.

"I was just aiming for Patty's stick," Thornton said. "I am not sure if he touched it or not, but he had good position on that defenseman, and it was just one of those (where) you throw it out front and hopefully (he) gets a stick on it and gets it in the back of the net."

Marleau originally was credited with the tally, but it later was awarded to Thornton, giving the All-Star five in his last two games.

Turco, who finished with 24 saves, accepted the blame for the loss after high-sticking Pavelski.

"We are all responsible for the things we do," Turco said. "For me, in overtime right there, is nothing short of dumb. I have no excuse, it was what it was. I was trying to help my guys out, but in that case, they did not even need any. It was a reaction and something that is easily stopped."

"He made some big saves for us, but again, it's about winning the game," Tippett said. "His penalty really cost us in the end."

Entering with a six-game winning streak at San Jose, the Stars grabbed the lead late in the first period. Nabokov robbed Modano on a one-timer from the slot, but the rebound went directly to Morrow, who buried it from low in the right faceoff circle with 4:01 remaining for a 1-0 edge.

It was the 30th goal of the season for Morrow, marking the first time in his eight-year career he has reached the plateau.

Pavelski cashed in during a power play at 3:48 of the second period to knot the contest, but Lehtinen one-timed All-Star Mike Ribeiro's cross-slot pass past Nabokov from the left circle during a 5-on-3 advantage with 7:31 remaining to restore Dallas' lead.

The Sharks had several chances after Pavelski's goal but were unable to convert. Curtis Brown put a backhander off the right goalpost during a breakaway with 8:11 to go, and Devin Setoguchi was denied by Turco on another solo rush with less than six minutes left.

San Jose finally got the equalizer at 6:08 of the third. On a 2-on-2 rush, both Dallas defenders zeroed in on Mike Grier, who was able to get a cross-ice pass to Thornton for a one-timer from the right circle that sailed past Turco.

"It's very rare (to set up Thornton)," Grier said. "I just threw it over there, and Joe's got a very underrated shot."