Marleau Is Too Tough for Blues

Patrick Marleau’s slump is history, and the San Jose Sharks are halfway to the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Marleau scored three goals and Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves, leading the Sharks to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 2 of their Western Conference series Saturday at San Jose.

Though Nabokov was nearly impeccable again, San Jose took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series thanks to a career-defining performance by Marleau, an All-Star who scored only one goal in the final 17 games of the regular season.

San Jose’s 24-year-old captain has been inconsistent throughout his career, but he scored in each period of a penalty-filled game. The Blues gave the Sharks 10 power plays in the first two periods.

After getting two power-play goals, Marleau got behind the St. Louis defense early in the third period for a short-handed goal on a pass from Vincent Damphousse, who had two assists.

“We could have overreacted to a lot of things that were going on, but we didn’t,” Marleau said.

“If we retaliate, then we’re playing it right back into their hands. I’m getting used to new linemates, but if I’m working hard and trying things that will make the team win, it doesn’t really matter.”

Nabokov was on the verge of his second consecutive shutout until he gave up a short-handed goal to Doug Weight with 2:09 to play, ending a streak of 127 scoreless minutes.

The second-seeded Sharks, who set a franchise record with 104 points while winning the Pacific Division, have a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the second time in their 13-year history.

In 1995, they went two games ahead of the Calgary Flames before holding on for a seven-game, first-round victory.

Detroit 2, Nashville 1 -- Mathieu Schneider’s slap shot went off the boards, off Predator goalie Tomas Vokoun’s skate and trickled into the net with 2:45 left in the third period at Detroit, giving the Red Wings a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference series.

The winning goal came on a power play. The Red Wings had been scoreless in nine power-play opportunities to that point.

Schneider’s shot from above the right circle went behind Vokoun, then caromed toward the net where the sprawled-out goaltender had the misfortune of having the puck go off his skate.

Nashville’s Vladimir Orszagh tied the score midway through the second period and Vokoun kept the Predators in the game with 26 saves.

Philadelphia 3, New Jersey 2 -- Alexei Zhamnov scored the go-ahead goal in the second period at Philadelphia, and the Flyers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions to take a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round matchup is Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Devils haven’t rallied from a 2-0 series deficit since winning four in a row against Boston in the 1994 conference semifinals. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Flyers in the 2000 conference finals.

Toronto 2, Ottawa 0 -- Gary Roberts scored twice and Ed Belfour stopped 31 shots at Toronto as the Maple Leafs tied the first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

Belfour recorded his 12th career shutout and 83rd playoff victory, tying him with New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur for first place among active goaltenders.

New York Islanders 3, Tampa Bay 0 -- So much for Rick DiPietro’s playoff inexperience being a liability for the Islanders. The 22-year-old goaltender earned his first postseason victory by stopping 22 shots at Tampa as the Islanders evened the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

Former King Jason Blake returned from an ankle injury expected to sideline him for the entire series and scored his first two career playoff goals.