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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- After watching teammate Mark Smith
knocked unconscious by a scary hit, the San Jose Sharks knew they
had to win.
|  | | The Sharks' Mark Smith later was checked hard from his blind side and taken to the hospital for observation Saturday after laying unconscious on the ice. |
"I think the guys were kind of rattled," said Mike Ricci, who
had a goal and two assists in the Sharks' 4-1 victory over the
Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. "We just tried to rally
around it and get some breaks."
With the score tied at 1-1 in the second period, Carolina's
Bates Battaglia struck Smith from behind. After laying unconscious
and bleeding along the boards for several minutes, Smith was taken
from the ice by stretcher.
"It's the worst feeling in the world seeing your buddy down,"
Ricci said.
The Hurricanes, who have lost six of their last eight games,
went up 1-0 on a first-period power play when Ron Francis' pass
from behind the net was swatted by Sami Kapanen past goalie Evgeni
Nabokov.
Scott Thornton rebounded Ricci's shot past Arturs Irbe to tie it
with 2:41 left in the period.
Battaglia's hit on Smith came in the second period and occurred
behind the play.
"He didn't see it at all," coach Darryl Sutter said. "He was
probably out before he hit the ice."
Smith, a 1997 San Jose draft pick who made his NHL debut earlier
this season, was down for about 10 minutes as team trainers hovered
about him.
According to the Sharks, Smith was knocked out and had a
laceration to the head -- but had feeling in his extremities. He was
taken to San Jose Medical Center for X-rays and observation.
Battaglia was ejected and given a major penalty for charging.
"It was a clean hit, the question is how late was it?"
Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. "The guy wasn't in a position
to protect himself."
Seconds after play resumed, the Sharks went up 2-1 on Ricci's
power-play goal from out in front of the crease. Ricci recorded an
assist on Niklas Sundstrom's power-play goal at 9:12.
Sundstrom, who also had assists on the Sharks' other two goals,
leads the team with 11 points -- but the goal was his first of the
season.
"I think once we realized (Smith) was awake and off the ice,"
Thornton said, "we wanted to score a couple of goals for him."
Patrick Marleau added his seventh goal in the final period.
Marleau has scored in a career-high five straight games.
Nabokov, still subbing for injured goalie Steve Shields, made 19
saves for the Sharks (8-2-1), who extended their unbeaten streak to
seven games (6-0-1). Nabokov is 7-1-1, allowing just 15 goals,
since Shields was injured.
Former Sharks goalie Irbe stopped 24 shots for the Hurricanes
(3-7-3).
Game notes
Shields went down with an ankle injury in the Sharks'
second game. ... The Sharks were without defenseman Marcus
Ragnarsson, who will miss at least two weeks with a strained
ligament in his right knee. He has been replaced on the roster by
Greg Andrusak, who has played just 28 NHL games over the past five
seasons. ... Hurricanes forward Martin Gelinas needs just one point
for 400 for his career. ... The Sharks signed free agent defenseman
Bobby Dollas on Saturday. Dollas, 35, had a goal and two assists
this season with the Manitoba Moose of the IHL.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
San Jose Clubhouse
RECAPS
Los Angeles 2
New Jersey 1
Atlanta 8
Boston 3
NY Rangers 5
Montreal 2
Columbus 2
Ottawa 2
Philadelphia 3
Buffalo 0
Toronto 0
St. Louis 0
Washington 3
Florida 2
Anaheim 3
Nashville 3
Pittsburgh 1
Calgary 1
San Jose 4
Carolina 1
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