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BOX SCORE
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – In one remarkable night – and thanks to
one remarkable goalie – the Western Conference playoff race was
over.
|  | | Sharks right wing Teemu Selanne celebrates his third-period goal as Coyotes goalie Sean Burke looks back too late. |
Evgeni Nabokov was magnificent when the Sharks needed him most,
stopping 28 shots in his sixth shutout of the season as San Jose
clinched a playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the Phoenix
Coyotes on Thursday night.
In an unusual confluence of events, the Sharks also eliminated
the Coyotes from the playoff picture and clinched postseason berths
for Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The Canucks' 3-2 overtime win over the Kings on Thursday night
gave both teams 90 points – two more than Phoenix, which has fewer
victories than both teams and just one game left.
"It's nice that we got everything done tonight, with (Nabokov)
standing on his head and us playing a solid game in front of him,"
Sharks captain Owen Nolan said. "Hopefully this little battle at
the end of the season will make us a better team."
After Patrick Marleau's second-period goal broke a scoreless
tie, Teemu Selanne scored twice – including an empty-netter – in
the third period, giving him seven goals in the Sharks' last four
games.
But Nabokov, the Sharks' rookie goalie, only needed one goal to
back his array of sparkling saves. He set a team record for
shutouts as the San Jose fans chanted "Nabby!" throughout the
third period.
"It's good for the whole team," Nabokov said. "We've got to
get some confidence back, and we're looking forward to the
postseason."
Nabokov's team-record 32nd victory sent the Sharks to the
postseason for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in their
11 seasons. The win also pushed San Jose into fifth place in the
Western Conference, one point ahead of Edmonton with a game in hand
on the Oilers.
With Coyotes managing partner Wayne Gretzky watching from a
luxury suite, Nabokov outdueled Phoenix goalie Sean Burke, who also
had several stunners among his 22 saves. But the Coyotes couldn't
mount much offense against the Sharks' sturdy defense, and Nabokov
took care of their few scoring chances.
The Coyotes learned of their imminent demise by virtue of
Vancouver's win with about six minutes left in the game. A pall
immediately fell over the bench, and even coach Bob Francis'
decision to pull Burke with more than two minutes to play didn't
spark Phoenix to victory.
"It's tough to lose like this," said Burke, whose standout
performance this season allowed the Coyotes to trade Nikolai
Khabibulin and begin to rebuild the franchise. "A lot of adversity
has happened to us this season, and it all ended so suddenly."
With remarkable abruptness, the Coyotes earned the dubious
distinction of being the most successful team in NHL history to
miss the playoffs. Phoenix's 88 points are more than the 1985-86
Devils and the 1972-73 Red Wings, who both accumulated 86 points
but missed the postseason.
"There's a feeling of emptiness," Francis said. "You never
expect the end of your season to be so sudden. It's difficult to
express your feelings."
The Sharks got the game's first goal shortly after a
penalty-kill late in the second period.
Nolan went into the corner and stripped the puck from Ossi
Vaananen. Alexander Korolyuk, who played an inspired game, grabbed
the loose puck and hit Marleau, who skated across the crease and
flipped it past Burke's extended right pad.
Selanne's 32nd goal of the season was the end result of another
Phoenix turnover. Stephane Matteau, who had two assists, got loose
in the right circle and made a perfect pass across the slot to
Selanne, who one-timed it past Burke.
After going scoreless in his first six games with the Sharks,
Selanne has scored seven goals in San Jose's last three home games.
That's fitting, since Selanne scored 36 goals in 41 games at San
Jose Arena when he played for Anaheim and Winnipeg.
After winning just once in 12 recent games during a slump that
ruined much of their breakthrough season, the Sharks have won four
of their last five games, with two still to play.
"I think we finally played the way we can play," Nolan said.
"We chipped in on offense and played a solid defensive game, and
Nabby was solid too."
Game notes
The Coyotes lost two centers to injuries in the first
period, though both eventually returned to the game. Joe Juneau was
accidentally clipped across the face by Marleau's stick, while
Jeremy Roenick was hit in the left arm by one of teammate Shane
Doan's slap shots. ... When Selanne scored to put the Sharks up
2-0, Coyotes general manager Cliff Fletcher angrily kicked a
wastebasket in the press box. ... Mike Ricci's four-game
goal-scoring streak was snapped. He also took a terrible
retaliatory penalty with 5:26 to play after Doan elbowed him in the
head, but the Sharks killed it off. ... Marleau has 19 points in
his last 25 games. His goal gave him his first 25-goal NHL season.
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NHL Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
San Jose Clubhouse
RECAPS
Washington 3
Florida 0
Detroit 4
Atlanta 0
Montreal 3
Philadelphia 2
NY Rangers 4
Tampa Bay 3
Nashville 4
Calgary 0
St. Louis 4
Columbus 1
Vancouver 3
Los Angeles 2
San Jose 3
Phoenix 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrick Marleau gets the puck in front of the net and opens the scoring late in the second period.
avi: 1416 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Stephane Matteau perfectly feeds Teemu Selanne for the 2-0 lead.
avi: 1698 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Sean Burke breaks up the Sharks' fast break with the save off his head.
avi: 1438 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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