Sharks shake off slow start in rout

The Associated Press

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NEW YORK — It sure seemed as though the New York Rangers were on their way to an eighth straight win.

Playing at home with an early two-goal lead against a West Coast team on a long road trip, the signs certainly suggested it was going to be another good night for the NHL's hottest team.

By the time the first period was finished, the San Jose Sharks had taken over.

Devin Setoguchi scored two of San Jose's six consecutive goals and the Sharks took advantage of backup goalie Steve Valiquette in a 7-3 victory Monday night that snapped the Rangers' seven-game winning streak.

"We showed a little bit of our character," winning goalie Evgeni Nabokov said. "We kept going and the power play came up big for us again. After that, they were a little bit on their heels and we took advantage even more."

The Sharks were even at 2-2 after the first period and then scored three in the second to put the game away.

"We don't want to put ourselves in that situation very often, but when we do we know we've got the firepower that can come back and put the puck in the net," defenseman Dan Boyle said.

Valiquette didn't make it out for the third period, replaced by No. 1 netminder Henrik Lundqvist after allowing five goals on 18 shots — three on 10 shots in the second.

Lundqvist gave up Ryan Vesce's third NHL goal — second in two games this season — at 3:46 of the third, and one to Patrick Marleau with 1:55 remaining that completed the scoring.

Brad Staubitz and Dany Heatley scored in the first period for the Sharks (5-3-1), and former Rangers forward Jed Ortmeyer added a goal in the second before Setoguchi struck twice. Marleau also had two assists.

KINGS 4, STARS 1, at Dallas — Ryan Smyth had a power-play goal and two assists, Justin Williams added a goal and an assist, and road-weary Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Dallas.

OILERS 2, CANUCKS 1, at Edmonton, Alberta — Nikolai Khabibulin made 39 saves to lead Edmonton and keep Vancouver winless on the road this season.

SLAP SHOTS — Penguins forward Max Talbot has practiced with his teammates for the first time since scoring both of their goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Talbot, who had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum in left shoulder, wore a red jersey that signified he could not be involved in contact during Monday's practice. ... Bruins forward Milan Lucic is recovering from surgery to repair his broken right index finger.