Instant Replay: Sharks Swat Away Flyers on Dell's First NHL Shutout

BOX SCORE

SAN JOSE – It took him until his 19th season, but Patrick Marleau finally has a game-winning goal against every team in the National Hockey League other than the one he's always played for.
 
Marleau and Justin Braun scored goals, and Aaron Dell recorded his first NHL shutout in a 2-0 Sharks win at SAP Center on Friday night over Philadelphia.
 
Marleau's power play goal was the only score through two periods. He pounced on the rebound of a Marc-Edouard Vlasic shot that hit goalie Steve Mason in the chest, depositing his 10th of the season.
 
That was all the Sharks would need, as Dell made 21 saves in beating his former college coach at the University of North Dakota, Dave Hakstol.
 
The Pacific Division-leading Sharks won their fourth straight game, and eighth in their last nine overall. Philadelphia dropped to 1-4-1 in its last six following a 10-game winning streak.
 
Ironically, it was Marleau who was demoted to the second power play unit in place of Joel Ward, as the Sharks looked to reverse their recent struggles on a man advantage.
 
After two days off to practice the Sharks came out flying at the start, recording nine of the first 10 shots on goal. Mason made a remarkable save on Melker Karlsson two-and-a-half minutes into the game, though, and later got his pad on a Timo Meier attempt from the slot a little more than five minutes in.
 
Dell's best save may have been his first one, when he denied Dale Wiese's shot from the circle on a two-on-one about four minutes into the game.
 
The Flyers made a push in the third period and nearly tied it with 5:42 to go, but Claude Giroux's slap shot struck iron.
 
Anthony Stolarz, who entered the game to start the second period, kept the Flyers within striking distance. The rookie got in front of a Joonas Donskoi shot on a two-on-one rush in the second period, sealed off the post on Marleau's wraparound try early in the third, and turned aside Kevin Labanc's redirection with 15:30 to go in the third.
 
He couldn't stop Justin Braun, though, who hissed in a wrist shot on a rush with 4:37 to go, after Joe Pavelski's backhand pass beautifully set up the defenseman.
 
Vlasic had to be helped to the dressing room with 30 seconds left in the game, when a Shayne Gostisbehere shot deflected into the defenseman's face.
 
The Sharks improved to 17-1-2 against Philadelphia in the last 20 meetings, including six straight wins. They meet for the second and final time on Feb. 11 at Wells Fargo Center.
 
Special teams 
 
The Sharks finished 1-for-3 on the power play with their two new units, generating six shots on goal. They are 5-for-38 over the last 10 games (13.1 percent).
 
Philadelphia was 0-for-2, and is just 1-for-21 in its last eight games. The Sharks are 15-for-15 on the penalty kill over their last six games.
 
In goal
 
Dell's start was just his second in the last 15 games, presumably allowing Martin Jones an extra day of rest for Saturday's division game in Los Angeles. 
 
All five of Dell's starts have come against Metropolitan Division teams, including two each against Carolina and the Islanders.
 
Mason was forced to leave the game after the first period. With 3:46 to go in the opening frame, a Brent Burns shot somehow went inside his blocker, and the goalie was seen flexing his hand while being attended to by the team trainer. He stayed in the game at the time, but did not return to the crease after the intermission.
 
Lineup
 
David Schlemko drew back into the lineup after three games as a healthy scratch. He replaced Dylan DeMelo on the third pair with partner Brenden Dillon.
 
Up next
 
The Sharks will visit Staples Center for a New Year's Eve matchup with the Kings on Saturday night. Los Angeles comes to San Jose for the back end of the home-and-home on Jan. 3.
 
The Sharks have won the first two meetings against their chief rival, one in each building.