Sharks 2, Ducks 0

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Falling short in an attempt to hand San Jose their first regulation loss of the season at HP Pavilion, the Ducks were denied on all 31 of their shot attempts by goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and were defeated by the Sharks 2-0.

Jonas Hiller stopped 25 shots for the Ducks, who were playing the second half of back-to-back games after defeating St. Louis 4-2 on Wednesday night at Honda Center.

It was the first shutout of the season for Nabokov. Patrick Marleau added a goal and an assist in the Sharks' 10th win in the last 11 games overall.

Devin Setoguchi scored his team-high 14th goal for the NHL-leading Sharks, who opened a 13-point advantage atop the Pacific Division standings over the second-place Ducks with Nabokov's 41st career shutout. It was punctuated by a brilliant kick save on Corey Perry in the final minute.

The Sharks survived with Nabokov, who has played seven straight games for the Sharks since returning from a three-week injury absence. The Vezina Trophy finalist hasn't lost in regulation since Oct. 24 at Florida.

The clubs' long-simmering dislike erupted with five minutes left when Milan Michalek knocked Perry to the ice in response to an attempted open-ice check. Chris Pronger, Chris Kunitz and San Jose's Joe Pavelski all got involved, but only Michalek and Perry got penalties.

Another big shoving match erupted with 20.4 seconds left with many of the same combatants along with Sharks defenseman Rob Blake, who got sent off with a spearing penalty. Michalek and Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer also got misconduct penalties during the fracas.

The Ducks were responsible for the biggest of the Sharks' five losses this season, shutting out San Jose 4-0 on Oct. 17 to end the club's unbeaten start. The Sharks also beat Anaheim 4-1 in the season opener.

The rivals don't meet again until March 15, when they'll play the final three games of their season series in three weeks.

The NHL's highest-scoring team added two goals to its total of 104. Marleau got the Sharks' first on a long shot late in the first period.

Marleau already has 13 goals while playing with Joe Thornton and Setoguchi on the Sharks' top line. He had 19 last season while struggling with confidence and chemistry until the trade deadline, when the Sharks' franchise scoring leader's game returned.

Setoguchi increased San Jose's lead when he whipped home a rebound of Marleau's shot midway through the second.