San Jose Sharks hurt Dallas Stars playoff chances with 5-2 win -NHL Update
Dallas is closing in on becoming a team with a truly saddening story this 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season as San Jose Sharks inflicted immense damage to their playoff hopes with a 5-2 win, Tuesday night, April 3, 2012, at the sold-out
American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
After staying in the third spot in the Western Conference majority of the regular season, Dallas Stars were pushed below the playoff line by Los Angeles Kings as they rallied to make a late comeback and took over. San Jose Sharks, another one of their Pacific
Division competitors, took the two points and are now at number eight with 92 while Dallas struggles with 89.
Both teams have two games remaining with some top level teams that still leaves some room for Dallas to make a comeback.
San Jose is back in the playoff race after weeks of fighting to make a return into the West’s elite eight but the struggle still is not over and Sharks definitely acknowledge that.
"We can't enjoy this for very long," San Jose coach, Todd McLellan, said. "We've got work to do tomorrow. Good teams keep their highs and lows at a very even keel and we still have work to do. We cannot let our guard down. That'll be the message again sent
to the players tomorrow."
Daniel Winnik made the opening goal in round-one of the contest to put San Jose ahead of their rivals. Brenden Morrow answered right back to level it at 17:47 while Alex Goligoski widened the gap with his tie-breaker a little over midway in the second.
T.J. Galiardi levelled it for San Jose and it was Logan Couture this time who snapped his 10-game scoreless streak on the power play opportunity with Michael Ryder out for tripping.
"It had been a while, so it felt good to get on the board," Couture said. "(Havlat) made a great play to me. It's something we work on, on the power play. I went to the slot and he had the patience to wait `til I was open. It was right on my stick."
Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe ultimately secured the match with two back-to-back goals in the finals minutes of regulation.
San Jose Sharks have the next two straight against Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and Saturday. Dallas Stars will be in Nashville on Thursday to face-off against Predators and return home to host St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
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