San Jose Take Out Canucks With 4-2 Victory

The San Jose Sharks scored two goals 13 seconds apart late in the 3rd period to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on the road. With the win, the Sharks are now alone atop the National Hockey League standings with 40 points, four up on both the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, although both teams have games on San Jose. As far as the Pacific Division goes, the Sharks are well out in the lead, eight points up on the 2nd place Los Angeles Kings.

Vancouver Canucks Kyle Wellwood beat San Jose's goalie Evgeni Nabokov at the 2 minute mark to give them an early 1-0 lead, but Nabokov shut the door after that. Left winger Frazer McLaren drew the Sharks even, scoring his first ever NHL goal about midway through the 1st. This was McLaren's 10th game in a Shark uniform and the lanky winger (he's 6'4") does show promise.

Defensman Dan Boyle put the Sharks up 2-1 at 6:15 of the 2nd on the power play. Joe Thornton got his league-leading 30th assist on the play, shooting at wrist shot that bounced off Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo to Boyle who was cruising in to Luongo's left, snapping his 6th under Luongo's left leg for the go-ahead goal.

Manny Malhotra backhanded in his 5th goal of the season at 17:25 of the 3rd and then left winger Jamie McGinn put the game out of reach for the Canucks 13 seconds later.

Canucks right winger Jannik Hansen beat Nabokov tipping in Wellwood's pass into the slot with 7 seconds left in regulation, but as the announcer said: "Too little, too late." The Canucks had a disappointing night after dominated the Edmonton Oilers in their last game.

The Sharks meet up with the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at San Jose, while the Canucks head to New Jersey to do battle with the Devils on Wednesday.