Sharks: San Jose, goalie Jones blank Chicago
CHICAGO — Martin Jones and the Sharks did a good job of frustrating the Blackhawks.
So did an apparent Chicago goal that was disallowed following a video review.
Jones made 33 saves for his fifth shutout this season and Patrick Marleau scored a power- play goal in the second period to lead San Jose past Chicago 2- 0 on Tuesday night.
Joe Thornton added a long empty- netter with 1: 42 left.
Marleau’s goal, on the Sharks’ only man advantage, ended his sixgame drought and was just his second in his past 17. It was all the offense San Jose needed to improve to 18- 8- 2 on the road, best in the Western Conference.
“You knew they were going to come at some point; they’ve got such a skilled team,” Jones said. “I thought all night we were really solid.”
The Sharks, who ended Chicago’s three- game winning streak, are 102- 2 in their past 14.
“We made them come through us,” San Jose’s Joe Pavelski said. “We had some big blocks. It’s good to see.”
Jones rebounded to earn his 12th career shutout after allowing five goals on 29 shots in a 6- 2 loss at Nashville on Saturday. He is 9- 2- 1 in his past 12 starts and 16- 5- 2 on the road.
“He’s learning to be a starter,” head coach Peter DeBoer said. “It’s a whole new job for him at this level. I think he’s starting to get the hang of that.”
An apparent goal by Chicago’s Brandon Mashinter with 2: 37 left in the first period would have put Chicago ahead 1- 0. It was disallowed following DeBoer’s successful video challenge for goalie interference.
Mashinter deflected in a bouncing puck off his right shinguard with no kicking motion, but Chicago’s Dennis Rasmussen was in the crease and made contact with Jones.
Following the game, Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville was still fuming about the call.
He was asked about the play in the first question of his postgame news conference and answered it, and then abruptly threw his arms in the air and left.
“I don’t know the rules anymore or something’s changed because my understanding — played a lot of hockey — that I don’t know,” Quenneville said. “I think everyone has an interpretation of what’s a goal and what’s a bad goal, but I can’t believe it.”
Chicago goalie Corey Crawford made 25 saves as the defending Stanley Cup champions were blanked for the sixth time this season.
The Blackhawks came out flat off a 5- 1 win at Dallas on Saturday night that strengthened their hold on first place in the Central Division.
Chicago didn’t sustain much pressure after the disallowed goal.
“Just got an unlucky bounce there pretty much,” Crawford said. “We didn’t have the same jump that we usually do. It was just one of those games where the puck wasn’t going in.”