SB Nation Bay Area - San Jose Sharks NHL Scores, Schedule, Standings: Stars Break Sharks' Streak At Eighthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2011-03-06T01:42:29-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17877812011-03-06T01:42:29-08:002011-03-06T01:42:29-08:00Sharks Miss Boyle, Miss Nine-Game Streak As They Fall 3-2 To Stars
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<p>San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/55441/jason-williams">Jason Williams</a> scored the game-winner late in the third period as Dallas halted San Jose's eight-game win streak with a 3-2 decision at HP Pavilion.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/55175/jamie-benn">Jamie Benn</a> and <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/55189/loui-eriksson">Loui Eriksson</a> also lit the lamp for the Stars, who have won four of five. <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54786/kari-lehtonen">Kari Lehtonen</a> upped his record to 27-18-7 with a 29-save effort.</p>
<p>"I knew they were winning a lot, so you saw an extra spark," said Lehtonen.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54486/kyle-wellwood">Kyle Wellwood</a> and <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54756/patrick-marleau">Patrick Marleau</a> tallied for the Sharks, who hadn't lost since February 13 at Florida. <span>Antti Niemi</span> allowed all three goals on 28 shots in defeat.</p>
<p>"I think we were a little scattered. I think we had a few lapses and gave the momentum back. But it was a playoff-type game. Both teams played really hard," said Sharks defenseman <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54783/jason-demers">Jason Demers</a>.</p>
<p>Williams picked up the deciding score with 7:12 left in regulation, when he circled the San Jose net from right to left and managed to slide a shot off San Jose's <span>Dany Heatley</span> and past Niemi as he guarded the left post.</p>
<p>Niemi came up big to keep it a one-goal contest when he stopped a short-handed breakaway with roughly 2 1/2 minutes remaining, but the home team was unable to net an equalizer in the final 1:14 with an extra attacker.</p>
<p>Benn slipped a shot between Niemi's pads on a short-handed breakaway just 1:19 after the opening faceoff to put Dallas on the board, but Wellwood's tip of a <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54759/torrey-mitchell">Torrey Mitchell</a> centering feed evened things at 9:55.</p>
<p>Marleau slipped between two Dallas defenders to beat Lehtonen at 1:22 of the second period.</p>
<p>Eriksson converted a rebound at the right side of the crease at 7:37 of the third and the Stars pulled even.</p>
<p>Dallas has won four of its last five trips to Northern California...Prior to the contest, the Sharks activated goaltender <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54858/antero-niittymaki">Antero Niittymaki</a> from injured reserve and assigned goaltender <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/108172/carter-hutton">Carter Hutton</a> to Worcester of the AHL...Stars center <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/55200/brad-richards">Brad Richards</a> missed his ninth straight game with a concussion.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/6/2032896/sharks-miss-boyle-miss-nine-game-streak-as-they-fall-3-2-to-starsJames Brady2011-03-05T09:31:40-08:002011-03-05T09:31:40-08:00Sharks Hosting Stars, Thoughts On Antti Niemi's Contract
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<p>The Sharks made it eight consecutive victories in their last outing, a 3-1 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> at home. It was the second time on said eight-game win streak that the Sharks beat the Red Wings, which has to feel good for their confidence going forward. <span>Antti Niemi</span> is a player that has to be running with an awful lot of confidence right now, after beginning the season on such a low note with a lot of scrutiny coming his way in relation to his previous season with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>. For somebody who supposedly rode the coattails of the Blackhawks defense, Niemi sure is becoming a rock for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a>.</p>
<p>Initially giving up ground to <span>Antero Niittymaki</span>, Niemi appeared to get shaken early and often, and every time "Nitty" would come in and put on a strong performance, Niemi's response would be lackluster and uninspired, making the division of playing time clear for the coaching staff. Then Niittymaki went down with an injury, and it was all-Niemi all the time.</p>
<p>He hasn't disappointed. Maybe it's a confidence factor, or maybe the Sharks changed something, but he's playing like a number one goalie, and now he's getting paid like one. In a move unlike Doug Wilson, the Sharks inked Niemi to a four-year contract extension worth $15.2 million, at around $3.8 million per. It's obvious that Niemi deserves the contract, but it's not something that the team is known to do during the season. My theory is that they felt Niemi nearing a turning point in his season, that physically he was able to play with the top level, and just needed a mental edge to push himself over. The contract extension did that, and now he's playing even better - as evidenced by the eight game winning streak.</p>
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<p>The People Have Spoken: San Jose defeats Detroit 3-1, extend winning streak to something like forty three games</p>
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<p>That's the title of the recap over at Fear The Fin for Thursday's game against the Red Wings. It's an accurate portrayal of how things seem in San Jose right now. <span>Dany Heatley</span> put the puck in net twice, and <span>Patrick Marleau</span> added the third insurance goal to give them their 3-1 lead that would eventually represent the outcome. Antti Niemi surrendered one goal on 27 shots, and the Sharks continues rolling.</p>
<p>San Jose is looking to make it nine straight when they host the Stars on Saturday. Whereas the Sharks are riding some momentum, the Stars were halted in their tracks by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> in their last outing, as <span>Lubomir Visnovsky</span> secured a hat trick to give them the overtime win over Dallas. <span>Adam Burish</span>, <span>Loui Eriksson</span> and <span>Jamie Benn</span> scored for the Stars, who were up 3-1 after two periods. <span>Kari Lehtonen</span> stopped 25 pucks in the losing effort.</p>
<p>The Stars were on a three-game winning streak, which itself came after a five-game losing skid. Dallas has taken two-of-three meetings between the teams this season, though San Jose won the last outing on December 16th, in Texas. Both teams are possibly without contributing defensemen, though the Sharks will be missing <span>Dan Boyle</span> much more than the Stars will be missing <span>Nicklas Grossman</span>.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/5/2031595/sharks-hosting-stars-thoughts-on-antti-niemis-contractJames Brady2011-03-03T09:43:03-08:002011-03-03T09:43:03-08:00Sharks Looking To Beat Red Wings Twice On Single Winning Streak
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<p>The Sharks have beaten some good teams on their current seven-game win streak. They bested the Capitals with superior offense in a 3-2 showing, and they held steadfast to extinguish the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Calgary Flames</a> in the shootout in their 4-3 win. They also took out the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, and just before that - the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a>.</p>
<p>They'll try to make it 2-0 against said Red Wings on this winning streak, which will be at eight if they're successful. In the last meeting between the two teams, <span>Devin Setoguchi</span> was right in the middle of his recent hot streak, grabbing two goals, including the game winner in the third period. <span>Ryane Clowe</span> and <span>Joe Thornton</span> also provided scoring in the meeting, that also saw goalie <span>Antti Niemi</span> make 35 saves.</p>
<p>It was a game in which the Sharks attempted 43 shots, and a game where Red Wings goalie <span>Jimmy Howard</span> actually looked good. It's shame that you can stop 39 shots and still be given the loss, but that's just what happened, and the Sharks aren't about to apologize. They had better not, because Detroit is a scary team on any given day. The Red Wings have lost a little bit of momentum though, dropping a 2-1 outing to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> in their first road loss in about a month.</p>
<p><span>Pavel Datsyuk</span> had the only goal for Detroit, who did win their last outing in San Jose. Dastsyuk scored then, too, along with <span>Henrik Zetterberg</span> notching two of his own. Goalie Jimmy Howard is 3-2-1 with a 2.81 GAA when facing the Sharks, and that includes two losses this season. </p>
<p>The Sharks beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> in their second straight shootout win in their last outing. Joe Thornton scored in regulation, while Ryane Clowe was the lone scorer in the shootout, taking the first shot. Antti Niemi made 18 saves in the win. It's the longest winning streak of the season for the Sharks, who currently lead the Pacific division.</p>
<p>Both teams could be without significant players, as <span>Dan Boyle</span> could miss for the Sharks while <span>Brian Rafalski</span> could miss his fourth straight for the Red Wings. Boyle's absence was a big reason for the close game against the Avalanche, as the power play was almost non-existent for San Jose.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/3/2027432/sharks-looking-to-beat-red-wings-twice-on-single-winning-streakJames Brady2011-03-02T04:05:55-08:002011-03-02T04:05:55-08:00Sharks Win Another Shootout, Best Avalanche 2-1
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<p>San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - <span>Ryane Clowe</span> scored the only goal of the shootout to lift San Jose to a 2-1 win over the <a href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> at the Shark Tank.</p>
<p>Joe Thornton's 16th goal of the season late in regulation tied the game for streaking San Jose, which rallied for its seventh consecutive victory and will continue its six-game homestand on Thursday against Detroit.</p>
<p><span>Antti Niemi</span> finished with 18 saves for the Sharks, who increased their lead atop the Pacific Division to four points over Phoenix.</p>
<p>"Even though we might be losing, we feel like at any point we could break through and grab a game," Thornton said. "That's been the case here for a long time, maybe the last four or five weeks, we've been playing some real good hockey."</p>
<p><span>Erik Johnson</span> scored an unassisted goal for the Avalanche, who are winless in their last four (0-3-1) and have recorded only one victory over their last 15 games overall.</p>
<p>"It's almost laughable at this point," said Colorado forward <span>Matt Duchene</span>. "We work that hard, we play that well. With a team with that much offense and that many guys having great seasons, we hold them to no goals with four minutes left, and they find some way to score. That's pretty frustrating."</p>
<p>Colorado goaltender <span>Brian Elliott</span> turned aside 34 shots.</p>
<p>After two scoreless periods, the visitors opened a 1-0 lead 1:18 into the third stanza. Skating on the power play, Johnson's wrist shot from the high left slot made its way through traffic -- including Duchene's partial screen in front with his stick -- and past Niemi.</p>
<p>Elliott and the Avs were several minutes away from a shutout, but the Sharks knotted the score with 2:58 remaining in regulation. <span>Jason Demers</span> released a shot from the right point and Thornton's incredible deflection lit the lamp.</p>
<p>Thornton, facing away from the goal near the right post, tipped the puck -- which was headed wide of the net -- behind him and over Elliott's shoulder.</p>
<p>Neither team found the back of the net in overtime but Clowe lit the lamp as the first skater in the shootout. Niemi then stopped all three Avalanche shooters -- <span>Milan Hejduk</span>, Duchene and <span>David Jones</span> -- for the win.</p>
<p>Earlier Tuesday, the Sharks signed Niemi to a four-year contract extension...Elliott stopped both <span>Logan Couture</span> and <span>Joe Pavelski</span>, the other two San Jose shooters...Colorado was 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Sharks ended scoreless on all four of their chances with the extra skater...The Avs are now winless in their last six games in San Jose...Attendance was 17,562.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/2/2024609/sharks-win-another-shootout-best-avalanche-2-1James Brady2011-03-01T16:26:47-08:002011-03-01T16:26:47-08:00San Jose Sharks NHL Scores, Schedule, Standings: The Sharks Are The Real Deal
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<p>The Sharks are a completely different team than they were through the first half of the season. They were the very model of inconsistency, having days of excellence coupled with days of absolute mediocrity. The only regularity in their play was the inconsistency of it all, and if you could count on anything, it was that you couldn't count on the Sharks. Fast forward to about a week ago and the Sharks were picking up their fourth straight win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a>.</p>
<p>Detroit fell to a score of 4-3 and the Sharks were definitely in business. On Wednesday, they took on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, and though they were without <span>Sidney Crosby</span>, San Jose's eventual win was just as sweet. Then, in their most recent outing, they came from behind to best the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Calgary Flames</a> in a thrilling shootout victory.</p>
<p><span>Devin Setoguchi</span> has been on, while <span>Ryane Clowe</span> has been going all "RYAN CLOWE" on folks. Clowe was the lone scorer in the shootout, and was also the man to tie the game with a wrister at 2:34 remaining in the final frame. The aforementioned Setoguchi also scored for the Sharks, along with <span>Kyle Wellwood</span> in the first and second periods, respectively.</p>
<p>Another reason for the Sharks recent success might be something you'd not expect: an injury. <span>Antti Niemi</span> was so-so at the beginning of the season and actually fell behind in public perception and coach's favor as the starter to <span>Antero Niittymaki</span>, but has played better and better since being inserted into the role after Niittymaki's injury put him on the bench. You could call it rising to the occasion, and rise Niemi has, blocking 21 shots through overtime in their most recent outing, and although he's not always been perfect, he's done enough more often than naught.</p>
<p>The week ahead has the Sharks taking on the Detroit Red Wings and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a>, but first they will host the struggling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> on Tuesday. The Avalanche are, how you say, not very good. Winning just one game in February, the Avalanche have allowed three goals in eighteen-straight games. <i>Eighteen straight games.</i> That's the first time it has happened since the expansion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> of 2000. If you don't know how laughably significant that last sentence is, work Google for a little while and you will be morbidly curious, in a "Oh man, are those two trains on the same track going at each other, I can't look away!" kind of way.</p>
<p>It's obviously foolish to overlook a professional hockey team and assume any game on the calender is a marked win before it happens, but the Sharks have to feel good coming back to the HP Pavilion in San Jose with the win streak they're on. To add a seventh win to that would certainly help their chances of dealing with the Red Wings and Stars again on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2011/3/1/2330662/san-jose-sharks-nhl-scores-schedule-standings-the-sharks-are-the-realJames Brady