(Sports Network) - Stephane Robidas scored the game-winner in the third round of the shootout, as the Dallas Stars edged the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, in a battle between two Pacific Division foes at HP Pavilion.

After a scoreless first two rounds in the shootout, San Jose's Ryan Vesce started the third round with a wrister that went wide of the net. Robidas then skated towards the net and fired a wrister that found the top right corner of the net.

Mike Modano and James Neal each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who have won two of their last three games. Neal returned to the lineup after missing two games with a groin injury. Marty Turco stopped 30-of-32 shots for the victors.

Dany Heatley and Ryane Clowe each had a goal for the Sharks, who extended their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Evgeni Nabokov turned aside 34-of-36 shots for San Jose, which had a two-game winning streak snapped.

With the Stars down 2-0, Neal lit the lamp at the 5:50 mark of the third to cut the deficit in half. Neal fired a shot from the right point that deflected off the skate of a San Jose player and into the net.

Modano scored his first goal of the season less than two minutes later to tie the contest at two. Modano's one-timer of a loose puck from between the circles slid under the pads of Nabokov.

The Sharks broke a scoreless tie at the 10:32 mark of the second period. Joe Pavelski controlled the disc behind the net before sliding a pass in front to Heatley, who chipped the puck under Turco's pads.

Clowe's wrister from above the left circle with 7:17 left in the second gave San Jose a two-goal margin.

Game Notes

This was the first meeting between these two division rivals this season...San Jose won five of its six battles with Dallas last season.









Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend