Nabokov

Nabokov & Company Knock Off Undefeated Stars

“I think it was one of those desperation saves,”—Goalie Evgeni Nabokov

By Barbara Mason
BASD/Raiderdrive.com
Story posted by Al Reyes-BASD

The San Jose Sharks have had their best season start in their relatively young history. Last night they took on the undefeated Dallas Stars (5-0) at HP Pavilion in an effort to better their 4-1 record. They have scored 21 goals in their five outings with nary a goal by #19 Joe Thornton and only one by #12 Patrick Marleau. Both of them have been outstanding in assists however, which in the majority of cases precedes the score. “It means we have a good team, “ said Thornton when asked. The sixth sense that Thornton has seems to be at times uncanny. It’s as if the puck has a brain that is hard-wired to his and that good old puck is just about always on the Shark’s side. Thornton is for the most part at the right place at precisely the right time. Last night’s game pitted two of the fastest teams in the NHL as well as two of the hottest goalies right now.

The first ten minutes of the first period was a feeling out for both teams, a primarily defensive game. At 13:07 San Jose found the net courtesy of #9 Milan Michalek with assists by #18 Matt Carle and #4 Kyle McLaren and the Sharks took the lead 1-0. San Jose had numerous opportunities in this period but it was Michalek who found pay dirt.

San Jose had five penalties in this period while the Stars had four.

The second period saw both teams skating at a faster pace and although Dallas had taken 27 shots on goal to San Jose’s 15, it was San Jose who scored for a second time that evening at 16:20. This time #7 Mark Bell, assisted by #14 Jonathan Cheechoo and #18 Matt Carle, scored giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead. The period was marked by increased physicality culminating in a major fighting penalty for #25 Mike Grier and Dallas’ Phillipe Boucher. Despite 7 penalties committed by the Sharks, the Stars were unable to find the net although they certainly made goalie #20 Evgeni Nabokov earn his paycheck. The San Jose goalie made save after save in a solid showing that resulted in the eventual shut out. The save of the evening came in the final minutes of the game as Nabokov who was stretched across the goal and nearly parallel to the ice stopped a bullet with an outstretched leg. It was only one of the many saves he executed last night defending 32 shots on goal.

Despite the quickness and agility of the Dallas Stars, everything that they seemed to get going was broken up by the Sharks, and the third period ended with neither team scoring. This was a game that San Jose admitted looking forward to. With both teams known for their speed they knew well in advance that this would be a tough game as well as a game that they very badly wanted to win.

“Our defense were on their toes and picking up the rebounds so it was a great effort,” said Evgeni Nabokov after the game. When asked if he had felt early on in the game that he was really tuned in, he had this to say. “It’s hard to say. You’re really trying hard to concentrate on every shift. You are trying to concentrate the whole game and you’ve got to take whatever the game is going to give you,” he said. He referred to his flying athletic save as the game neared completion. “Sometimes you’ve got to make like that last save. I think it was one of those desperation saves. Sometimes it’s going to work and sometimes it’s not.”

Mark Bell scored the second goal of the evening largely in part to yet another assist by Jonathan Cheechoo. “Once again, he set me up for an empty netter, so I’ll take that,” he said. He gave a lot of credit to Nabokov’s efforts last night. “Nabby was just incredible. Spectacular saves and kept us in it. They really took it to us in the second period and we got caught turning the puck over on our blue line, and you can’t do that against a great team like Dallas.

Coach Ron Wilson was pleased with the improved play in the third period, with the come from behind victory up in Edmonton last week still fresh in his mind. San Jose let the Oilers back in a game that they should have won. While he spoke of it as playing a little bit better in the third period, the Sharks didn’t allow a score in this one, which was in direct contrast to the Edmonton game. “Part of it was us and they were probably a little leg weary,” he said. “It was their fourth game in six nights. We weathered the storm. The big push was in the second period and Nabby made some huge saves.”

The Sharks remain at home for game 7 against the tough Detroit Red Wings this Thursday night. The puck drops at 7:30.