Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

Recap: San Jose vs. Pittsburgh

Evgeni Nabokov stopped 27 shots for his second shutout of the season, and the San Jose Sharks used a balanced attack to crush the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-0, at HP Pavilion.

"[Nabokov] has been tremendous lately. He's really played well," Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said.

Joe Pavelski, Dan Boyle and Manny Malhotra each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who have won seven of eight and have at least a point in all eight of those contests. Dany Heatley and Jamie McGinn also scored in the resounding win.

"They got the puck in the offensive zone, won a lot of battles, and they are a tough team to deal with there," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said.

Sidney Crosby has now gone four straight games without a point, and Pittsburgh has dropped three of four. The Penguins have lost two straight road games after starting the season 7-0-0 away from home. Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled early in the second period after giving up three goals on 14 shots, and Brent Johnson allowed two goals on 21 shots.

McGinn put the Sharks on the board 3:27 into the game on a shot that banked off of Fleury's leg, and San Jose, which had three power plays in the first period, took advantage of their third opportunity.

Boyle rocketed a slapshot from the point, and Pavelski was there to tip it into the air and past Fleury for a 2-0 San Jose lead at the 16:04 mark of the opening period.

Boyle got on the board after skating into the offensive zone, putting a nifty move on a defender and firing a wrist shot from the right circle past Fleury at the 1:41 mark of the second. The Penguins pulled Fleury after the tally.

Brent Johnson didn't fare much better, as less than two minutes later, Heatley got on the scoreboard with his 11th goal of the year for a four-goal lead.

Malhotra put the Sharks ahead by five with a power play goal midway through the third, and San Jose cruised to victory from there.

Game Notes