Sharks Blanked At Home By Blue Jackets
SAN JOSE (AP) ― Rick Nash scored three goals, Mathieu Garon recorded his third shutout in four games, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the San Jose Sharks 3-0 on Saturday night.
Nash extended his goal-scoring streak to five games and his point streak to eight as the Blue Jackets earned their seventh road victory in eight games, the quickest they've reached that win total in the team's 10-season history. Garon made 35 saves.
The Blue Jackets (12-6), off to the best start in team history, also recorded their first regulation win at San Jose and their first win of any kind there since Jan. 8, 2004.
Antero Niittymaki stopped 24 shots but lost his second game in regulation. The Sharks failed to record a point for the first time in eight games. Joe Pavelski, who needed nine stitches to close a cut caused by a flying puck in Dallas on Thursday, had his five-game point streak snapped.
Nash scored his first goal on a power play less than four minutes in. Crisp passing in front of the net by Anton Stralman and Derick Brassard opened a crease to Niittymaki's glove side for Nash, who has eight goals and three assists in his last eight games.
Nash added his second goal late in the second period after taking a pass from Jakub Voracek. The Blue Jackets are 9-0 when Voracek records a point.
Nash scored an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the victory.
The Sharks, one of the top power-play teams in the NHL the past few season, failed on advantages. San Jose hasn't scored in 15 power-play chances, its worst streak of the season.
Garon, who went 17 games without recording a shutout before his current streak, recorded his 19th NHL blanking.
Notes: Before this season, the fastest that the Blue Jackets reached seven road wins was in 20 games two years ago. ... Sharks D Dan Boyle had his career-best, seven-game point streak snapped. ... Voracek recorded his 100th NHL point. ... Sharks D Niclas Wallin returned to the lineup after missing two games because of general soreness. D Doug Murray missed his fourth game with an undisclosed lower body injury. ... Brassard has points in 11 of 12 games. ... Columbus is 2-15-2 at HP Pavilion.
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