Nabokov's key for Sharks advancing

Contra Costa Times

Article Launched: 04/26/2008 02:58:05 AM PDT



SAN JOSE -- Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov slid to his left on his knees. Then he pounced up and skated frantically to the right post. Then back to the left post.

Within seconds, he skated off the ice and into the Sharks locker room, having just allowed the deciding goal 41/2 minutes into overtime of the Western Conference semifinal opener against the Dallas Stars, who emerged as 3-2 winners.

Brenden Morrow's game-winner was just the 18th shot Nabokov faced all night. But it was the difference. And it was a painful reminder that it's not how many shots you take (the Sharks had 27), but how many slip into that 4-foot-by-6-foot goal.

"You've got to score to win," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We were getting outshot. There were some scrums around our net that looked dangerous but probably weren't. We were looking for the one play that could dictate the outcome."

In the Sharks' last go-round, they outshot the Calgary Flames 229-162, but still needed seven games to win that opening-round series. Now the Sharks find themselves down 1-0 in the conference semis, the same stage where they've exited the past two seasons.

To advance further down the Stanley Cup road, they're going to need Nabokov to play as you'd expect from a Vezina Trophy finalist. This ugly loss wasn't all his fault, but aren't goaltenders supposed to "stand on their head" and make crazy saves en route to a Stanley Cup title? He fared well enough in the Sharks' first-round slugfest with Calgary. And he skated out to his traditional hero's welcome from the home crowd Friday night.

But he skated in nearly three hours later with his head down, the Sharks having lost for the 11th time in their past 13 overtime playoff games. Nabokov got out of position as Stephane Robidas skated in for a wraparound attempt, and then Morrow brought more sorrow to the Sharks, who also lost game one of their first-round series with Calgary.

After Robidas slipped behind the net, Nabokov scrambled to cover the right post, but he slid too far. He looked like he was hydroplaning down Highway 101 in a rainstorm. He re-engaged and reversed directions, only to have Morrow's shot slip past his left skate.

"The whole night, they might have had five scoring chances," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "From a defensive point of view we were pretty good. We've got to create more (scoring) chances and get more traffic in front of Marty Turco. When we did, we scored."

No matter how many shots the Sharks' talented front lines pepper at the opposing net, Nabokov will have to remain on his toes at the other end. Now, he did do that at the end of regulation, stopping two Dallas shots on a power play in the final 11/2 minutes.

For much of the night, Nabokov got to sit back like he was at the front row of a prize fight. His Sharks teammates took turns pummeling the Stars against the boards throughout the first period. At period's end, the Stars had tallied only two shots on Nabby, including a harmless slap shot from center ice as the period expired.

"It's going to be up to which team plays better defense in front of their goalie," Sharks forward Jonathan Cheechoo said just before Friday's game when asked to handicap this series.

Cheechoo forced the overtime session by playing great offense in front of the Stars' goalie, Turco. Cheechoo fought through a scrum at the top of the crease and knocked in the tying goal with 3:02 left in the third period.

But that score was wasted, as was Milan Michalek's long-awaited first goal of this postseason that put San Jose ahead 1-0 in the second period. Nabokov quickly surrendered that lead and allowed in Mike Modano's slap shot from the blue line.

If the Sharks are to win 12 more games for their first grasp of Lord Stanley's silverware, Nabokov can't let in such long-distance lasers. It was the sixth consecutive game Nabokov has allowed multiple goals. Not that he needs a shutout every game, but you'd like your netminder to steal a game or two along what would be a lengthy Stanley Cup run.

For the Sharks to go further in these playoffs, they're going to need Nabokov to step up the way you'd expect from the league's top goaltender.

Contact Cam Inman at cinman@bayareanewsgroup.com


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