The San Jose Sharks were able to overcome the great goaltending from the first place Colorado Avalanche to win 3-1. This closes out their 2 game homestand with 2 wins against teams they had previously lost to on the road. They left for Carolina today to face the Hurricanes Sunday morning. The game is a matinee to not conflict with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
The Sharks were able to get off to a good start finally, but had a hard time getting the puck past the league's hottest goaltender, Craig Anderson. Anderson was able to stop first shots, rebounds, even scrambles until the waning seconds of the second period. Sharks captain Rob Blake put a shot on net, Patrick Marleau was denied on the rebound, and then Ryane Clowe came in from the left side, swatting at the puck. With just 5.6 seconds remaining, Clowe got off the schneid and got the Sharks on the board.
For the second goal, Jason Demers found Dany Heatley at the side of the net for an easy redirect of Demers' long pass. This was rookie Demers' 9th assist of the season, 3 behind leading defenseman Tomas Kaberle. Colorado was able to cut the lead to 1 when rookie Matt Duchene put in his short handed rebound after Dan Boyle got caught looking at for the puck. San Jose answered just 30 seconds later on Jamie McGinn's first goal of the season. McGinn was up ice and got the stretch pass from Marleau to spring him for a partial breakaway. Rushing up the left wing, McGinn took a shot before the defense could cut him off, beating Anderson with a shot off the post and in. McGinn wasn't even sure it was in initially, and attempted to put in the rebound. That sucked any life Duchene's goal had given the Avalanche out of them.
Joe Thornton missed about 7 minutes in the second period after taking a blocked shot to the face. A linesman picked something up off the ice and brought it over to the San Jose bench at the next stoppage, handling it carefully. The first thing that came to my mind was "Chicklets!" Most likely, Thornton had some dental work done last night, or early this morning to make the 9:00 AM flight.
As the game was going along in the second period, I was thinking, the longer we keep them in this, the more likely they'll win. I've seen too many Sharks games where they bomb the opposing goaltender, give up hardly any shots against, and loose 3-1. So, it's good that they were able to get in front, and stay there.
Also, Manny Malhotra has been named the official NHLPA representative for the Sharks. After Brad Lukowich had been traded, Douglas Murray had stepped up to fill the role. Murray will continue to share the duties with Malhotra, but Malhotra will have the title.
Interesting article from Mark Emmons of the SJ Mercury News about the ice as San Jose Arena.
Video highlights from the game courtesy of the NHL:
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