Joe Thornton beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere with a shot high to the stick side to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 shootout victory over Anaheim on Sunday night and spoil Scott Niedermayer's return to the Ducks.
Thornton was the twelfth shooter and just the fifth to score in the shootout. His goal gave the Sharks their first victory over Anaheim this season. The Ducks had won two previous meetings, both times with shootout victories.
Ducks left-winger Brad May, left, and San Jose defenceman Kyle McLaren collide in the first period.
(Mark Avery/Associated Press)
San Jose extended its road win streak to six in a row, and handed Anaheim its third consecutive defeat.
Rookie Bobby Ryan put the Ducks ahead with his goal in the first period, with Doug Weight getting an assist in his Anaheim debut.
Torrey Mitchell tied it 1-1 with a short-handed goal in the second period.
Evgeni Nabokov made 36 saves for San Jose, and Giguere had 31 for Anaheim.
The 34-year-old Niedermayer, named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP after helping the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup, sat out the first part of this season while contemplating retirement. He informed the team on Dec. 5 that he was returning, and began working out with his teammates.
To make room for him under the salary cap, the Ducks traded Andy McDonald and his three-year, $10 million US contract to St. Louis on Friday in a deal that included their acquiring Weight. Anaheim activated Niedermayer, who had been suspended while he wasn't with the team, the following day.
Niedermayer, a former Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenceman, didn't look particularly rusty in his first game since June. On one play in the second period when he was hemmed in by two defenders, he deftly flicked a no-look, backhanded pass between them and to an open teammate.
Mitchell pulled San Jose into a tie with a determined individual effort for a short-handed goal. Mitchell took the puck away from Anaheim's Mathieu Schneider in the Ducks' zone and took off up the ice with Schneider frantically trying to slow him down.
Schneider succeeded in knocking Mitchell to his knees, but the Sharks' centre kept control of the puck, regained his feet and skated down on Giguere, beating him with a shot behind the goalie that ticked off his skate and into the net.
Weight didn't need long to make his presence felt, setting up Ryan's goal at 13:41 of the opening period. The goal was the second for the 20-year-old Ryan, who was sent down to Portland of the AHL after struggling with the Ducks. Ryan, taken by Anaheim as the second player to go in the 2005 entry draft, was recalled on Saturday.
Skating down the right side, Weight slid a cross-ice pass to Ryan, who beat Nabokov with a slapshot from the centre of the left circle.
The Sharks had a chance to tie it when Milan Michalek was awarded a penalty shot at 19:33 of the first period after he was pulled down from behind on a breakaway. But Giguere got good position to cut off the angle and blocked Michalek's attempt.
San Jose came close again on a second-period power play when Patrick Marleau's slapshot banged off the left post.
Niedermayer's return leaves one lingering question for Anaheim: whether Teemu Selanne will rejoin the team. Selanne, who led the team in scoring last season, also is taking time off to decide if he wants to retire.
The Sharks played without defenceman Alexei Semenov, placed on injured reserve with a broken finger Friday. Still sidelined are forwards Jeremy Roenick (knee) and Jonathan Cheechoo (groin).
Related
More Hockey Headlines »
- Penguins move indoors to face Leafs
- Fresh off a dramatic victory in the outdoor Winter Classic on New Year's Day, the Pittsburgh Penguins return to the friendly confines of the Igloo Thursday to host the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET).
- Canadian goalie Mason to start in world junior semifinal
- Canada will stick with Steve Mason in goal for Friday's semifinal game against the United States at the world junior hockey championship in the Czech Republic, Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg said Thursday.
- Czechs clinch 5th place at world juniors
- The Czech Republic rallied in the second period to rout Finland 5-1 Thursday and finish fifth at the world junior hockey championship.
- Higgins focused on Lightning's Lecavalier
- Former 20-goal scorer Christopher Higgins will play a checking role when the Montreal Canadiens try for their second home win in nine tries Thursday against Tampa Bay.
- NHL rookie sensation Toews avoids surgery
- Chicago Blackhawks rookie centre Jonathan Toews will be sidelined three to four weeks after spraining his left knee during Tuesday's 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
More Sports Headlines »
- Penguins move indoors to face Leafs
- Fresh off a dramatic victory in the outdoor Winter Classic on New Year's Day, the Pittsburgh Penguins return to the friendly confines of the Igloo Thursday to host the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET).
- Canadian goalie Mason to start in world junior semifinal
- Canada will stick with Steve Mason in goal for Friday's semifinal game against the United States at the world junior hockey championship in the Czech Republic, Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg said Thursday.
- Clemens 'swears' to 60 Minutes he didn't use drugs
- Roger Clemens said former trainer Brian McNamee injected him with the painkiller lidocaine and the vitamin B-12, according to the first excerpts released from the pitcher's interview with CBS's 60 Minutes.
- Higgins focused on Lightning's Lecavalier
- Former 20-goal scorer Christopher Higgins will play a checking role when the Montreal Canadiens try for their second home win in nine tries Thursday against Tampa Bay.
- Perfect Belichick named NFL coach of the year
- Fresh off leading his team to an unprecedented 16-0 record, the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick received the Associated Press NFL coach of the year award on Thursday.
Sports Features
- NBARaptors Basketball
- Sun, Jan. 6 at 1:00 pm ET: Cleveland at Toronto
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
