Martin Havlat Leads Sharks Past Stars

February 2, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Martin Havlat (9) warms up before the game against the Nashville Predators at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The San Jose Sharks (36-16-6, 78 points) defeated the Dallas Stars (26-21-10, 62 points) by the final of 2-1 in overtime at the SAP Center in San Jose. This was the third straight time a game has gone to at least overtime between these clubs, and Wednesday evening the Sharks were victorious. Martin Havlat was especially strong in the win as he had a hand in both San Jose goals.

This evening forward Adam Burish was activated for the first time this season and is one of many San Jose Sharks who are set to come back from injury in the next few weeks. Burish had a decent game and finished the night with one shot on net, three hits and one blocked shot all in 10:06 of ice time.

Another guy who had a good night for the Sharks was Scott Hannan, who got assists on both San Jose goals. He was not only great offensively but defensively as well, where he made a few nice defensive plays.

Also, Alex Stalock got the start in net after Antti Niemi had a rough game, and in particular a rough third period, against the Flyers where he was eventually pulled from the game. Stalock was strong in net again for the Sharks and finished the game with 19 saves though many of those were of a high degree of difficulty. One of his strongest saves of the game came as he had to move across his crease in a scoreless first period against Jamie Benn who fired a one-timer to Stalock’s high glove side.

The rest of that first period was pretty good as far as the Sharks were concerned, but neither team scored. The Sharks outshot the Stars 9-6.

In the second period, which was extremely defensive, the Sharks finally broke through. Martin Havlat scored his fourth goal of the season on a tip-in goal off a Scott Hannan shot-pass from the blue-line. Credit Bracken Kearns for doing the dirty work in front of the net and occupying the defenseman which gave Havlat room in the slot. After that goal San Jose gained some momentum but nothing came of it besides the end of the period.

In the third it was the Stars who came out the better club. It paid off for them, too, as about six and a half minute into the period Valeri Nichushskin would tie the game at one. His goal, which came after a flurry of chances for the Dallas Stars, came off a one-timer with the pass coming from teammate Trevor Daley.

After the goal it was the Stars who had a jump in their step, that was until the Sharks earned a couple of power plays late in the game. Unfortunately, the Stars were great on the penalty kill all night and did a phenomenal job of taking away ice even with one less man. That was a continuation of the third period in general where the Sharks only managed two shots in the final regulation stanza.

With the game locked at one it would continue on to overtime, where the Sharks would take care of business 1:52 into the overtime period. The goal was scored by Tommy Wingels after Havlat sent a nice pass from the side of the net to the front of the net to Wingels who was crashing the net. Wingels just has to fire the one timer on net and with that he ended the game giving the Sharks the 2-1 victory.

GGS 3 Stars
1. Martin Havlat (1 goal, 1 assist)
2. Alex Stalock (19 saves)
3. Valeri Nichushkin (1 goal)