NHL: San Jose 3, Anaheim 1

January 22, 2010 - 0 comments

San Jose, Calif. -- Evgeni Nabokov took a shutout into the third period Thursday and won for the fifth time in six starts while boosting San Jose to a 3-1 decision over Anaheim.

The Sharks maintained a two-point lead over Chicago for the best record in the NHL.

Nabokov won for the 29th time this season, making 26 saves and allowing only a score by Matt Beleskey 1:15 into the third period.

That goal brought the Ducks within one and it stayed a 2-1 contest until Patrick Marleau scored into an empty net with 5 seconds to play. It was Marleau's 35th goal of the season.

San Jose, which opened a five-game homestand, got first-period goals from Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Rob Blake.

Jonas Hiller gave up two goals on 24 shots to take the loss. Anaheim played the first of six straight road games.