Sharks Turn Opportunistic

The San Jose Sharks worked their game plan to perfection Monday night, concentrating on defense first and capitalizing on the New York Islanders’ mistakes.

Taking advantage of hard work by linemates Jeff Friesen and Tony Granato, San Jose center Marco Sturm scored with 54 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Sharks a 2-1 victory at Uniondale, N.Y.

“I just kept saying ‘Thank you, Jeff Friesen,”’ said Sturm, who knocked the puck into the open left side of the goal with goalie Tommy Salo down after a cross-ice pass from Friesen on a 2-on-1 break.

Islander forward Robert Reichel had turned the puck over at his own blue line, and Granato drove to the net to clear the way for Friesen and Sturm.

“Give them credit. They played a perfect, ugly road game,” Islander Coach Rick Bowness said. “We made a terrible, terrible pass in the neutral zone in the last minute. That’s how you shoot yourself in the foot.”

Mike Vernon stopped 17 shots, and Steve Guolla added a goal for San Jose, which has won two straight on the road.

Bryan Berard scored for the Islanders, who have lost three in a row.

New Jersey 5, Philadelphia 0--The Devils scored three times in just over a minute in the first period and Martin Brodeur made 20 saves for his 23rd career shutout in a victory at Philadelphia.

Patrik Elias scored two goals, while Bob Carpenter, Doug Gilmour and Kevin Dean each had one for the Devils, who snapped a three-game road losing streak.

John MacLean had three assists and Brodeur stopped the Flyers on four power plays, including a point-blank shot by Rod Brind’Amour late in the second period.

The Devils outshot the Flyers, 12-3, in the first period, when they put the game away during a span of 1:09.

Montreal 4, Chicago 2--Vince Damphousse scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period as the Canadiens beat the slumping Blackhawks at Montreal.

Damphousse scored off a deflection with 1:21 remaining to snap a 2-2 tie. Turner Stevenson added an empty-netter for Montreal with 46 seconds left.

The Blackhawks fell to 2-10, their worst start since 1959-60. They have scored only 16 goals all season.

Stephane Richer, playing his first game since Oct. 11, sent a rebound past goalie Chris Terreri at 2:56. Fifty-two seconds later, Vladimir Malakhov scored on another rebound after Shayne Corson’s drive hit the post.

Richer also had a first-period goal disallowed after a video review showed Scott Thornton was in the crease. Richer had been out of the lineup because of a deep cut to his right calf.