Sharks take advantage of opportunities to hold off spirited Jackets
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Blue Jackets weren't outmanned, just short-handed too many times last
night.
The result was a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks before a sold-out crowd of 17,496 in HP
Pavilion.
Rick Nash and Fredrik Modin scored goals for the Blue Jackets, who haven't won in San Jose since
Jan. 8, 2004.
But this wasn't like most of the losses in the Shark Tank.
It could be said that the Blue Jackets outplayed the Sharks for long stretches.
Ultimately, though, it was to no avail. The Sharks scored two power-play goals and another goal
during a delayed penalty, keeping their claim as the only NHL club that hasn't lost at home in
regulation. The Sharks are 14-0-1 at home this season.
The Blue Jackets went up 1-0 with 3:22 remaining in the first period.
Nash took a soft feed from defenseman Jan Hejda, then turned and fired on Sharks goaltender
Evgeni Nabokov. The puck glanced off the right skate of Sharks forward Jeremy Roenick, then bounced
off the stick blade of Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle before getting through Nabokov.
The Blue Jackets dominated the period, outshooting the Sharks 14-4 and creating a slew of
scoring chances. Kristian Huselius had two prime chances, but one hit a post and the other was
erased when Nabokov made a diving stick save.
The play continued to shade Columbus' way in the second period, but San Jose was helped by a
string of Blue Jackets penalties.
The Sharks tied it 1-1 with 5:03 remaining in the period and only three seconds to go on Jake
Voracek's interference penalty.
Patrick Marleau's first shot was partially blocked in the slot by Blue Jackets forward Andrew
Murray, but Marleau backhanded the rebound -- a floater -- over goaltender Steve Mason.
The Sharks went up 2-1 only 44 seconds into the third period. Once again, it was on a power play
when Roenick jumped on a rebound and fired it past Mason.
Three minutes later, the Blue Jackets tied at 2. Modin, looking as quick as he has all season,
pulled away from Roenick along the boards, carried the puck into the slot and fired it between the
legs of Sharks defenseman Rob Blake, beating Nabokov's right pad to the far post.
The Sharks, as noted by Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock after the morning skate, come in waves.
They play full speed from the start to the finish, an energy that's hard to match early, let alone
by the third period.
The Sharks kept coming, and eventually they were rewarded. With 12:19 left in regulation -- and
on a delayed penalty -- Joe Thornton jumped on a rebound on the right doorstep, batting it out of
mid-air and past Mason's stick.
Give the Blue Jackets credit. They desperately wanted this game, and they played as hard as they
have all season.
aportzline@dispatch.com
