SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Evgeni Nabokov made 24 saves to stay perfect since the All-Star break, and Christian Ehrhoff scored an early goal in the San Jose Sharks' 2-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

After blanking Colorado on Tuesday night, Nabokov returned to the Shark Tank and posted his 44th career shutout to push San Jose
back atop the overall NHL standings with 77 points. His teammates
provided strong defense during a Phoenix power play in the final
three minutes, and Marcel Goc scored his first goal since Oct. 25
into an empty net with 14.3 seconds left in the Sharks' seventh win
in eight games.

Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 27 shots for the Coyotes, who have lost
two straight since the break.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-01-30-09 0109EST