Dallas Stars win shootout for 4-3 win over San Jose Sharks - NHL Update
It was not as comfortable a win as the Dallas Stars hoped to get over a struggling San Jose Sharks, however, they still emerged with all two points after a 4-3 shootout win over the visitors on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the American Airlines Center.
It took a brilliant performance in goal from goaltender Kari Lehtonen and a late equaliser to help the Stars win the game.
Dallas was outshot 48-35 by a Sharks side that looked desperate to end its losing run and keep possession of the final playoff spot.
However, the Stars held on as Lehtonen made 45-saves during the game to keep his team in the game while Tomas Vincour stepped up right at the death to help the Stars get back into the game.
Coach Glen Gulutzan was proud of his team and said that the players will take confidence from the hard fought victory to push on further.
"It gives us a little bit of a boost. There's no question they've had our number, but for coming back from the road, we played a pretty good game. I think we gave up a lot, but remember, they're a little bit of a wounded bear too right now, so it's not an
easy game against them."
San Jose once again fell short as they lost a fourth straight game but they will take heart from their performance in a game which they dominated for long periods and seem close to ending their skid.
The Sharks will also be happy with their single point that keeps them in eighth spot with 75 points.
Goaltender Antti Niemi put in a good performance making 32 saves but could not keep out Vincour’s late equaliser and gave up the winner in the shootout to the same player.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan was unhappy with the late loss of the lead.
"The giveback, the loss of a point is what's affecting us right now. We're down about that,"
Both teams remained equal in the first period with no team able to take advantage. Things though changed in the second.
Michael Ryder scored at 12:16 in the second period against the run of play to give Dallas a 1-0 lead. Ryder scored his 29th goal of the season and it seemed like the Sharks would once again go down without a fight.
However, the Sharks rallied and seven minutes later Torrey Mitchell scored just before the end of the period to equalise the scores.
Things became even more interesting in the third period as both teams pushed for the win.
San Jose took the lead for the first time in the game just 25 seconds into the period through Patrick Marleau with an assist from captain Joe Thornton.
It took Dallas six minutes to equalise the scores with Jamie Benn getting his name on the score sheet but San Jose scored what looked to be the winner at 16:28 with Joe Pavelski rifling his shot past Lehtonen.
However, the game was not over yet and Dallas equalised from an unexpected Tomas Vincour goal who scored just his fourth of the season to make it 3-3.
The game went to overtime but there was nothing to separate the two teams and it was up to a shootout to settle the game.
The Sharks will now travel to Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday and will hope to end their losing run while Dallas will welcome Anaheim Ducks.
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