Nabokov stops 25 shots in Sharks’ 5-1 win over reeling Hurricanes

Nabokov leads Sharks past Hurricanes, 5-1

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kent Huskins and Brad Staubitz scored 1:22 apart in the second period, Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves and the surging San Jose defeated reeling Carolina 5-1 on Sunday.

Douglas Murray, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Patrick Marleau also scored for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks (10-4-1), who have won five in a row. San Jose got three goals from defensemen in their first win in Carolina since Oct. 24, 2000.

Brandon Sutter scored his second goal in two games for the Hurricanes (2-8-3), who haven’t won in nine games and are off to the worst start in franchise history.

Sutter started the scoring early in the second period when he broke in on the left wing and wristed a shot past Nabokov’s blocker. The puck rang off the right post before ricocheting into the net. Sutter, who had one career goal coming into the weekend, also scored Carolina’s lone goal in its 6-1 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Hurricanes have been outscored 16-4 in their last three games.

San Jose took over after Sutter’s goal, scoring two goals in rapid succession.

Huskins struck first when he beat Carolina goalie Cam Ward on a sharp angle 4:05 into the second. A little more than one minute later, Jody Shelley set up Staubitz for an off-balance wrist shot from the slot.

Murray got his goal late in the second period, converting a beautiful pass from behind the net from Joe Thornton. It was Murray’s second career goal and first in 109 games.

Vlasic’s goal in the third period came on an odd-man rush while Marleau finished the scoring by blasting a slap shot past Ward on the power play.

Ward made 20 saves for Carolina, returning to the net after sitting out his first game of the season Saturday.

Making matters worse for the woeful Hurricanes, Eric Staal left the game with an upper body injury and didn’t return.

About the only good news for Carolina was that two of their regulars returned to the lineup. Erik Cole played after missing 10 games with a broken leg and Tuomo Ruutu suited up after being suspended three games for a hit on Colorado’s Darcy Tucker.

Notes: Carolina F Ray Whitney was honored before the game for playing in his 1,000th NHL game. … F Scott Walker also played in his 800th NHL game. … San Jose will play in Columbus and Detroit before returning home. … At the end of the road trip, the Sharks will have played 12 of their first 17 games on the road, nine in the Eastern time zone.