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| Dennis Packard (28) scored the game’s only goal late in the third period. (Robert Laberge/Getty Images) |
(CP) — Dennis Packard scored on a rebound with 4:52 left in the third period and Thomas Greiss made 19 saves, leading the San Jose Sharks to a 1-0 NHL preseason victory over the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Greiss was one of the top rookie goaltenders in the AHL in 2006-07, going 26-15-2 with a 2.61 goals-against average in 43 appearances and helping the Worcester Sharks to a Calder Cup Playoff appearance.
Packard, 25, spent the 2006-07 season with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, recording six goals and 12 assists in 68 games. He played 93 AHL games with Springfield from 2004-06.
Packard scored off a rebound of a shot by former AHL All-Star forward Patrick Rissmiller.
The Ducks had four power plays, but two ended shortly after they began. In the first period, Bertuzzi received a hooking penalty just eight seconds after San Jose’s Doug Murray was sent off for hooking. In the third period, Maxim Kondratriev was whistled for hooking 10 seconds after a hooking penalty to Sharks wing Mike Iggulden.
Two penalties were called in the second period, both against Anaheim defenseman Kent Huskins about four minutes apart. But the Sharks came up empty on both power plays and were 0-for-5 overall with the man advantage.
The closest either team came to scoring in the opening period was just before the 14-minute mark, when Anaheim centre Todd Marchant fanned on a perfect pass across the crease from Travis Moen with Greiss out of position. The Ducks had another great scoring chance 4½ minutes into the second period, but Rob Niedermayer redirected Marchant’s lead pass right into Greiss’ pads after slipping behind the defence.
Jonas Hiller made 20 saves for Anaheim.
