Game Recap

SAN JOSE 2, DALLAS 1 DALLAS (AP) - After allowing 17 shots in the first period, the last thing the San Jose Sharks needed was to go a man down for five minutes because Mike Ricci, their top penalty killer, was ejected. The ensuing power play indeed turned out to be the game's turning point, yet surprisingly it went in San Jose's favor. Evgeni Nabokov's solid goaltending and outstanding work by the penalty-killing unit led to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night, keeping the Sharks atop the Pacific Division. "Killing penalties like that takes teamwork and I needed to make some great saves," said Nabokov, who faced just two shots on the five-minute major and made 28 saves overall. "That's why you're a team, to help each other." The Stars started the game with what captain Derian Hatcher called their best period of the season, a 17-shot attack filled with intense, crisp play by all four lines. The defense was strong, too, holding the Sharks to seven shots, all swatted away by goalie Ed Belfour. Less than two minutes into the second period, Ricci received a five-minute major match penalty and game misconduct for intent to injure on a head butt that missed Sergei Zubov. The Stars weren't the same after they failed to capitalize. Dallas got just nine more shots and was shut out on 11 overall man-advantage minutes. "It deflates the guys who are not on the power play and it takes momentum from the team when you don't score," Hatcher said. Ricci said he leaned his head toward Zubov to try baiting the defenseman into a penalty while skating far behind the puck. "If the intent was to injure, I would've hit him," Ricci said. "I should have just skated away." Instead, he went to the locker room. And prayed. "My prayers were answered," he said. San Jose won its second straight since a five-game skid following an injury to leading scorer Vincent Damphousse. The Sharks opened a three-point lead over the Stars, who could've gone up by one with a victory. Dallas was ahead earlier this week, but has lost two in a row and 3-of-4. Belfour continued to struggle, losing for the seventh time in 15 starts. He allowed a 45-foot goal to Gary Suter midway through the second period, then one to Marco Sturm in the third period. Sturm's shot hit the webbing of Belfour's glove, popped out and trickled into the net. Nabokov, who won for the 25th time in 41 starts, missed his fourth shutout by 6:26 as Jamie Wright scored on a rebound. San Jose Sharks 2, DALLAS STARS 1 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- San Jose 0 1 1 2 Dallas 0 0 1 1 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Bradley, SJ (slashing), 18:12. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 1, San Jose, Suter 7 (Korolyuk, Montgomery), 10:47. PENALTIES: Ricci, SJ, minor-major-game misconduct (slashing, intent to injure), 1:13; Zubov, Dal (slashing), 1:13; Marchment, SJ (tripping), 8:11; Hatcher, Dal (holding stick), 13:53; Harvey, SJ (interference), 17:05. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 2, San Jose, Sturm 9 (Sundstrom, Matteau), 9:05. 3, Dallas, Wright 1 (Van Allen, Zubov), 13:34. PENALTIES: Morrow, Dal (boarding), 19:18. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- San Jose 7 6 5 18 Dallas 17 3 9 29 POWER PLAY: San Jose 0 of 2; Dallas 0 of 4. GOALIES: San Jose, Nabokov 25-8-5 (29 shots-28 saves). Dallas, Belfour 19-14-4 (18-16). Referees: Dave Jackson, Mark Faucette. Linesmen: Brad Lazarowich, Dan O'Rourke. A: 17,001 (17,001).