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Boyle leads charge as Sharks topple Stars

Nov 29, 2008 - 5:57 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- When the San Jose Sharks last visited Dallas, the Stars eliminated them in an epic four-overtime battle in Game Six of the Western Conference semifinals, but they faced each other under much different circumstances Friday night.

Defenseman Dan Boyle scored two goals and Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist as the Sharks extended their winning streak to six games with a 6-2 triumph over the Stars.

San Jose, which is 13-1-1 in its last 15 games, leads the NHL with a 19-3-1 record, while the Stars surrendered at least four goals for the sixth time in nine home games and sit last overall in the league at 7-11-4.

"It was a good team win, a strong effort," Boyle said. "We know they're struggling, but we expected a strong effort. It's a credit to our team, we played really well in the first period. We didn't give them any chances to get some momentum going and come back on us. That's what good teams do, capitalize on some chances."

Milan Michalek, defenseman Rob Blake and Tomas Plihal also tallied, while Ryane Clowe had three assists and Devin Setoguchi and Joe Thornton each set up two others for the Sharks, who have netted 32 goals during their current stretch.

"The last time we were here, I remember that feeling, sitting in that dressing room after getting knocked out," Clowe said. "We've got real deep scoring. Throughout the lineup you don't know who's going to score. The defense is jumping in. That's a great sign. Through committee, we're playing real well."

Making his second straight start after missing seven games with an injury, Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves and helped San Jose improve to 7-3-0 on the road.

"We were happy with our complete game," said San Jose coach Todd McLellan. "It started in training camp. The guys came in ready to grasp onto something and we've been rewarded with some early wins. They're starting to believe in it. The depth of the club has helped us. When the big line isn't going, there's always someone there to pick them up."

Loui Eriksson recorded his 11th goal of the season and rookie James Neal also scored, but the Stars fell for the seventh time in nine contests.

"I am feeling pretty good out there and the puck seems to be going in," Eriksson said. "I want this team to have more success, that is so much more important than individual success. We are in a tough spot right now so we just have to keep battling through. We have talked about playing harder and more together, and it's been frustrating."

San Jose got on the scoreboard first midway through the first period, after Clowe intercepted Matt Niskanen's clearing attempt just inside the Stars' blue line. Clowe took about three strides into the zone and fired a wrist shot that Pavelski deflected past Marty Turco, who was later relieved by Tobias Stephan after 40 minutes of play.

"We got a lot of parts of our game that have to be better," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "Our power play wasn't very good, we can't keep a puck out on (the penalty kill), our goaltending has to be better and we have to find a way to stay with the game. Simple as that."

Dallas responded just 1:31 later, however, as Eriksson notched his fifth goal in the last six games. His shot from the slot took a fluky bounce off Blake's stick and hopped past Nabokov.

The Sharks struck back just 82 seconds after that, as Boyle's slap shot from the point went past a screened Turco with 5:22 remaining in the session.

San Jose then pushed the lead to two with 75 seconds left when Thornton fed a pass out from behind the net to Boyle charging down the middle, and the blue-liner's scorching wrist shot from the high slot beat Turco past his blocker for his second tally of the game.

"It's disheartening," said Turco, who allowed five goals in 19 shots. "I wanted to be able to do so much more and be the guy who turns it around. We've all got to do this together, we realize that, but we're just not and that's included in the disappointment."

Michalek ballooned the Sharks' lead to 4-1 with the man advantage 3:15 into the second and Blake then struck with three minutes remaining in the session.

"We wanted to focus on a good start and then keep our foot on the gas," Clowe said. "We really (settled) down on the power play, buried our chances. We didn't have a lot of lapses."

Plihal gave the Sharks a five-goal advantage 9:44 into the third, solving Stephan with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle before Neal got one back for Dallas with 3:33 left.