2008 Woodie Awards
Sharks shut out Coyotes
Steve Kennedy
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Sports
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Vesa Toskala and the San Jose Sharks shut out the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 last night at home, in a match-up that saw many penalties being called.
Sharks captain Patrick Marleau and forward Joe Thornton, who each had three assists on the night, help pave the way for Toskala to pick up his third shutout of the season. Despite the offensive support, Toskala remained solid in net stopping all 23 shots sent his way.
"The save that Vesa made on [Mike] Comrie midway through the second was huge," said Sharks' head coach Ron Wilson. "At that time, that would have given them some life and tied the game one-to-one."
The league's best powerplay unit got off to yet another slow start. On their first two-man advantage, the Sharks sustained some zone pressure, but never had any quality scoring chances thanks to the Coyotes' solid penalty killing. The Sharks converted on two of nine powerplay attempts on the night, with goals coming from Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski. Both powerplay goals saw assists coming from Marleau and Thornton.
"The powerplay was scrambling a little bit, but our guys stuck with the system," said Wilson.
Michalek's goal came in the second two-man advantage. The Coyotes weren't able to contain Michalek who put a wrist shot into a gaping net.
The Coyotes suffered a similar fate during the their two-man advantage after Sharks' forward Curtis Brown took a hooking penalty during a Coyotes' powerplay. Even with Brown, who was acquired during the off-season for his penalty killing skills, in the penalty box, the Sharks were able to keep the Coyotes off the scoresheet.
Sharks forward Steve Bernier notched his ninth goal of the season in between Michalek and Pavelski's goals.
Brown had the only goal in the third period off an assist from Thornton.
"It was redemption night for Curtis," a light-hearted Wilson said while referencing the Sharks' 'Four in the net, pizza you get.'
"Last game he sent all the fans home without pizza after missing the empty net twice."
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