Sharks 2, Ducks 0
SAN JOSE -- Patrick Marleau supplied the offense and goalie Martin Jones backstopped an excellent defensive effort as the San Jose Sharks opened their home schedule with a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.
Jones collected his first shutout in his second game with San Jose by stopping all 27 shots. It was Jones’ eighth shutout in just 36 NHL games. Jones stopped 19 of 20 shots during San Jose’s 5-1 win in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Anaheim, the two-time defending Pacific Division champions, lost its opening game for the eighth time in nine seasons.
Marleau, San Jose's left winger, broke a scoreless duel between Jones and Anaheim's Frederik Andersen with his first goal of the season just 38.1 seconds before the second intermission.
Marleau partially fanned on a setup from center Logan Couture moments earlier. But Marleau got a second chance in the slot and buried the 457th goal of his 18-year career with a wrist shot over Andersen's right shoulder.
The goal snapped a string of close calls for both teams. Marleau had a chance earlier in the period when he streaked down the right wing boards but was denied by Andersen.
Marleau scored his second goal with a wrap-around effort at 15:10. Right wing Joel Ward collected the only assist, his second helper of the night and first two points as a Shark.
NOTES: Marc-Edouard Vlasic became the Sharks' games played leader with his 672nd regular-season appearance Saturday. Vlasic, 28, passed the retired Mike Rathje. ... Anaheim is 5-17-0 in season openers, including 1-8-0 during its last nine. ... San Jose is 7-0-1 in its last eight home openers before Saturday. ... The Sharks start a four-game road trip at Washington on Monday. ... The Ducks open a four-game homestand Monday against Vancouver. ... The teams met for the first time since San Jose RW Raffi Torres was suspended 41 games for an illegal check of Anaheim's Jakob Silfverberg during an Oct. 3 preseason game. ... The Sharks unveiled a banner in honor of George Gund III, the team's late original owner. ... San Jose C Ben Smith and D Dylan DeMelo were healthy scratches while D Josh Manson, C Chris Wagner and RW Tim Jackman did not dress for Anaheim.