San Jose Sharks 8, Dallas Stars 1 (Game 72)

This was the fifth meeting of the season between Sharks (70-1-0) and Stars (49-21-2), with San Jose winning all four previous meetings. Evgeni Nabokov had allowed only one goal in three games for the Sharks against the Stars, and he go the start in net tonight in Dallas. 

Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks (Game 27)

The first game of the season between these teams took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose. Marco Sturm registered a hat trick and an assist, Patrick Marleau registered a season-high four goals and an assist and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 20 of 21 shots to give the Sharks a 10-1 victory. San Jose registered 31 shots and converted on 3/6 powerplays. ​

Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks (Game 44)

The second meeting of the season, again at HP Pavilion in San Jose, saw the Sharks don their black third jerseys. San Jose players Marco Sturm registered two goals and a +2, Vincent Damphousse registered two goals, an assist and a +1, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped all 30 Dallas Stars shots to give the Sharks a 7-0 victory. ​

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars (Game 52)

The third meeting of the season between the Sharks and Stars took place at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Marco Sturm registered one goal and one assist, as well as a +2 for the Sharks, while five other Sharks players also scored goals. Evgeni Nabokov for the second straight game against Dallas, faced and stopped all 30 Stars' shots on goal, giving the Sharks a 6-0 victory and extending his shutout streak against the Stars to two games.  ​

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars (Game 68)

The fourth meeting between the Sharks and Stars took place again at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, and both teams wore their throwback jerseys from the 1990s. Sharks players Brad Stuart registered two shorthanded goals and a +6, Patrick Marleau registered one goal, three assists and a +5, and Kyle McLaren registered one goal, four assists and a +6. The Stars outshot the Sharks 51-23 and converted on 4/5 powerplays, but the Sharks claimed an 11-4 victory with Vesa Toskala in net for his first meeting against Dallas (Evgeni Nabokov had been in goal for all three previous meetings and had only allowed one goal in three contests). 

Tonight's Game: San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars (Game 72)

Teemu Selanne (SJ) opened the scoring with a breakaway backhanded goal on an assist from Adam Graves to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Adam Graves (SJ) himself then scored a few minutes later on a one-time feed from Vincent Damphousse. Selanne (SJ) scored again halfway through the first period to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead, which they would carry into the 2nd period. 

​In the 2nd period, Alexander Korolyuk (SJ) continued the Sharks scoring to give San Jose a 4-0 lead. Bill Guerin (DAL) then committed a penalty for Dallas and, on the ensuing Sharks powerplay, Sharks captain Patrick Marleau roofed a backhand shot to extend the Sharks' lead 5-0. Mike Ricci (SJ) scored on a backhand goal of his own and Marco Sturm (SJ) scored on a feed from Kyle McLaren to give the Sharks a 7-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. The Sharks outshot the Stars 28-16 up to the 3rd intermission. 

In the 3rd period, Vincent Damphousse (SJ) scored on a breakway to extend the Sharks' lead to 8-0. Jason Arnott (DAL) later scored on a rebound to give the Stars their first goal against Evgeni Nabokov in almost three full games. Final Score: Sharks 8, Stars 1. 

The following players were selected as the three stars of the game:

3) Vincent Damphousse (SJ) registered one goal, two assists and +3
2) Teemu Selanne (SJ) registered two goals, zero assists and +4
1) Evgeni Nabokov (SJ) stopped 27 of 28 shots on goal (96%)

The Sharks outshot the Stars 34-28 for their fifth straight win against Dallas. The Sharks will next travel to Los Angeles to face the Los Angeles Kings, whom the Sharks are 3-0-0 against this season.