Ducks Hand Sharks 1st Regulation Loss Of The Season
ANAHEIM (CBS / AP) -- Saku Koivu scored the tying goal early in the third period, defenseman Sheldon Souray netted the winner with 6:39 left, and rookie Viktor Fasth made 25 saves as the Anaheim Ducks handed the San Jose Sharks their first regulation loss of the season, 2-1 on Monday night.
The Sharks, who won their first seven games before a 2-1 shootout loss to Nashville on Saturday, lead the Pacific Division by two points over the Ducks. Fasth is the first Anaheim goalie to win his first three NHL starts.
San Jose's Thomas Greiss, returning to the site of his NHL debut back in January 2008, stopped Anaheim's first 24 shots and allowed only a second-period goal to Logan Couture.
The tide turned in the second period when Sharks center Tommy Wingels attempted a clearing pass around the boards in his end, but didn't get the puck to defenseman Brad Stuart. It hit a rut at the base of the end boards and caromed straight into the slot, where Koivu backhanded it passed a stunned Greiss at 3:53.
Less than 4 1-2 minutes later, the Ducks received a two-man advantage. The Sharks killed the long 5-on-3 edge along with each of Anaheim's six power plays.
The Ducks took the lead on a slap shot from the left point by Souray that beat Greiss high to the glove side.
San Jose lost left wing Ryan Clowe for 17 minutes after he started a fight with Matt Beleskey at 11:20 of the first period. After the Sharks turned aside two Ducks power plays, Couture made it 1-0 with 1:52 left in the period.
Andrew Desjardins took a slap shot from outside the left circle, and Fasth made the save after the puck deflected off the stick of Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman. Couture pounced on the rebound and backhanded in a shot for his sixth goal in eight games.
Fasth was perfect after that.
Joe Thornton set up Patrick Marleau at the left of the net with a perfect pass from the top of the right circle, but Fasth slid over at the last instant and robbed him with his blocker.
About a minute later, Greiss kicked out a sharp-angle wrist shot by Daniel Winnik from the right circle, and Andrew Cogliano had an open net on the rebound. But Sharks defenseman Jason Demers dove across and deflected the shot away with his stick.
NOTES: San Jose hasn't allowed a goal in 27 short-handed situations the past six games. Last season, the Sharks had the second-worst percentage in the NHL (76.9). ... Marleau hasn't scored in his nine games against Anaheim. ... Couture, the ninth pick in the 2007 draft, scored 61 goals over the previous two seasons. ... San Jose C Michal Handzus has no points in his first nine games, the 14-year veteran's longest drought from the start of a season. ... The Sharks' previous three games were decided by shootouts. They have never been tied at the end of regulation in four consecutive games. ... San Jose has allowed only eight goals in regulation over its last six games. ... The Ducks begin a six-game road trip Wednesday against Colorado. ... San Jose was 0 for 5 on the power play.
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