SAN JOSE, Calif., March 28 (UPI) -- Vesa Toskala made 25 saves and Patrick Marleau extended his goal-scoring streak to three games Thursday night as San Jose blanked Detroit, 3-0.
Toskala, a veteran of just nine NHL games, turned aside 10 shots in the first period, eight in the second, and seven in the third on the way to his first career shutout. Vying to become the backup to Evgeni Nabokov next season, Toskala denied a breakaway chance for Sergei Federov midway through the third before stopping the Russian superstar from the doorstep with less than two minutes to go.
Marleau gave Toskala all the support he needed 9:51 into the game, netting his 27th goal of the season and third in as many contests.
Mark Smith ended a 10-game goalless drought and rookie Lynn Loyns added an empty-netter for the Sharks, who improved to 9-33-4-1 all-time against Detroit.
The loss was just the second in nine games for the Red Wings, who were blanked by Minnesota on Sunday before returning the favor two nights later.
