Sharks Dispose of the Red Wings, 2-1

Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves and Niko Dimitrakos had a goal and an assist, and the host San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, Monday night in a meeting of division leaders.

Todd Harvey scored for the Sharks, who hung on for their third consecutive victory against a first-place team after victories over Vancouver and Colorado. San Jose has won 11 of its last 15, earning at least a point in 13 while surging to a healthy lead in the Pacific Division.

“I can’t remember a better stretch than right now, these last three games,” said defenseman Kyle McLaren, who returned from a seven-game injury absence. “Any time you can beat a team like Detroit, it boosts your confidence. It shows you can compete against the top teams, and you deserve to be there.”

Detroit captain Steve Yzerman scored a late goal, giving him 1,701 points and a tie with Mario Lemieux for sixth place on the NHL’s career scoring list.

Colorado 5, Tampa Bay 4 -- Milan Hejduk scored his second goal of the game on a penalty shot 59 seconds into overtime at Tampa, Fla.

It was only the third time an NHL game ended on a penalty shot in overtime.

Hejduk was awarded the penalty shot after getting tripped from behind by defenseman Brad Lukowich.

Boston 5, New York Rangers 2 -- Sergei Samsonov had a goal and two assists at Boston, and the Bruins won for the sixth time in seven games.

The teams combined for 44 penalty minutes during a 2-minute 29-second stretch midway through the second period.

Eric Lindros knocked Joe Thornton out of the game with a punch to the left eye.

Thornton suffered a small fracture in his left cheekbone and is expected to sit out today’s rematch against the Rangers in New York.

St. Louis 2, Florida 1 -- Pavol Demitra’s second goal of the game 48 seconds into overtime lifted the Blues atSunrise, Fla.

Chris Osgood finished with 21 saves, improving to 12-1-5 in 20 career games against Florida.

New York Islanders 5, Ottawa 2 -- Roman Hamrlik and Oleg Kvasha scored 21 seconds apart in the third period to rescue the Islanders from another collapse against the Senators.

Cliff Ronning scored twice in his fourth game with the Islanders, and Jason Blake had a goal to give New York its second home victory against Ottawa in 19 games.

The 38-year-old Ronning, signed 10 days earlier as a free agent, got his 300th NHL goal to make it 5-2 with 6:09 left. He has three goals this season, his 16th.

Nashville 2, Minnesota 0 -- Tomas Vokoun stopped 26 shots at Nashville, and the Predators extended their unbeaten streak to seven games.

Vladimir Orszagh scored a short-handed goal in the second period for the Predators, who won for the fifth time during their current string. They have not lost in 10 consecutive home games.

Dallas 3, Vancouver 2 -- Marty Turco made 10 of his 25 saves in the third period to help lift the Stars.

The Canucks are winless in seven games at home (0-5-2), where they haven’t won in regulation since Nov. 8.