Sharks Defeat Stars In Overtime
SAN JOSE (CBS / AP) -- Tommy Wingels scored with 3:08 remaining in overtime to lead the San Jose Sharks to their second win in six games, 2-1 over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
Marty Havlat scored in regulation and set up the game-winner in overtime to give the struggling Sharks a much-needed boost with just one game left before the Olympic break. Alex Stalock made 19 saves.
Valeri Nichushkin tied the game early in the third for the Stars, who came up short in their attempt to sweep a three-game road trip and move into playoff position in the Western Conference. Dallas trails Vancouver by two points in the race for the final playoff spot. Kari Lehtonen made 19 saves.
The Stars have closed ground on the Canucks by winning five of their previous seven games, allowing nine goals and posting three shutouts in that span. They were at their best defensively in the third period when they held the Sharks to two shots, including none in the first 14-plus minutes but ended up on the short side in overtime.
Havlat made a neat backhand pass from the side of the net to Wingels, who knocked it in for his 11th goal.
The Stars tied the game early in the third as they capitalized on some sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Trevor Daley fed the puck to Nichushkin, who was all alone in the slot for a one-timer that beat Stalock.
The Sharks had taken the lead late in the second period when Havlat deftly redirected a point shot from Scott Hannan past Lehtonen for his fourth goal this season.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan looked for a spark for his struggling team, which had scored just five goals in the previous five games. He moved Patrick Marleau to a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns, while using Joe Pavelski as the center between Wingels and Matt Nieto.
It failed to pay early dividends as the Sharks were held scoreless in the first period for the seventh time in the past eight games. Stalock made sure they didn't end the period with a deficit when he made a scintillating glove save to rob Jamie Benn late in the period.
NOTES: McLellan tied Darryl Sutter for most games coached in franchise history with 434. ... The Stars fell to 3-4-0 on the second night of back-to-back games. ... Nieto did not return after blocking a shot by Trevor Daley in the closing seconds of the second period. ... F Adam Burish returned from a back injury to play for the first time this season for the Sharks. ... D Kevin Cannauton played for Dallas in place of Aaron Rome.
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