NHL: San Jose 5, Vancouver 0

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves Tuesday, backstopping San Jose to a 5-0 victory over Vancouver.

It was Nabokov's second shutout this season and 42nd of his NHL career.

The Sharks got a goal and two assists from Patrick Marleau. Their other goals were by Devin Setoguchi, Joe Thornton, Rob Blake and Tomas Plihal.

San Jose is now 18

All five Sharks goals came on just 15 shots against Canucks netminder Cory Schneider, who was lifted for Curtis Sanford, who stopped all 16 shots he faced the rest of the way.

Vancouver dropped its second game in its last three.

The Sharks quickly put things out of reach for the Canucks, scoring three times in the first period. Blake scored first on a wrist shot at the 4:22 mark.