Sharks over Blue Jackets in shootout

Columbus was looking for a better showing than they got against the Sharks in San Jose's home opener. They were also looking to keep Dany Heatley from repeating his +6 in that game. They got both of those, but fell short of victory.

The first period was fairly even with each team getting 7 shots on goal. The Sharks opened the scoring on a goal from Joe Thornton right in front. Just prior to the goal, Thornton was jockeying for position with Jan Hejda, and was knocked down into Columbus netminder Chris Mason. Mason never recovered, and appealed to the officials after the goal, but it went for naught. Ryane Clowe fed a pass in to Thornton from low on the left wing side to set up the goal. Rob Blake got the secondary assist on the play.

Columbus answered shortly after with a goal from Jason Chimera. The Sharks didn't have their coverage sorted out right with two forwards covering the same defenseman. When the pass swung his partner, Dan Boyle came out to challenge, leaving the front of the net uncovered. Chimera came in front from down low, getting the easy tip-in.

The only other eventful thing in the first period was Jarred Boll squaring off with Kent Huskins for a fight. It wasn't too special, but I scored it 5-3 for Boll.

The second period was much more up and down, with the teams trading chances for 29 combined shots. (Sharks 16, Blue Jackets 13) Again, the Sharks took the lead. This time, just 8 seconds after Columbus took a penalty. Thornton won the draw and went to the front of the net, screening and occupying a defenseman. Heatley helped the puck back to Boyle at the point, then released to the net. Boyle walked towards center-point, then fed Patrick Marleau. Marleau put the shot on net, but Mason was unable to handle the rebound. It was and easy tap-in for Heatley, his 4th against the Blue Jackets in 2 games. The assist extends Marleau's point streak to 9 games.

Next, Brad Staubitz picked a fight with Boll after Boll had been jawing with Jody Shelley. This was a fairly even affair, with a lot more clutching, grabbing, jockeying for position instead of actual punches. I scored it 3-2 for Staubitz. Staubitz did draw the extra penalty however, getting called for the instigator penalty. This would prove costly for the Sharks as Columbus converted the power play chance. After a couple of chances, including one from Rick Nash in the slot, Nash was able to get one in from a seemingly impossible angle. He was down low on the right wing side, with one skate close to the end line. As a left hand shot, he still had some angle after RJ Umburger fed the puck out to him from right in front.


A sweet goal that the replay on the NHL's web site doesn't to justice to. The low angle from the Columbus telecast they showed later lets you appreciate just how little room Nash had.

The overtime featured the goaltenders making some spectacular saves each way, but neither team was able to score. So, to the shootout we went. The first three shooters were unable to score, then Boyle out waited Mason to put the Sharks ahead.


It was up to Nash to continue it, but Nabokov didn't bite and waited out Nash until he had nowhere to go. Sharks win the shootout 1-0, and the game 3-2.

This game was the return of Manny Malhotra to Columbus, where he played the last several years. Sharks head athletic trainer Ray Tufts worked his 1,000th game. Tomorrow night's game against Detroit will be Equipment Manager Mike Aldrich's 1,000th game. Aldrich skipped a game to watch his son play in a hockey tournament, otherwise they would have both hit the 1,000 game mark together.

Sharks fans should be very happy with the quality of the TV coverage. This game was on Fox Sports Ohio (carried by the NHL Network nationally). They didn't carry the Sharks goals very well, and I thought the quality of the play-by-play and color wasn't as high as we get covering the Sharks. It seemed too home team driven, really taking away from the broadcast.

Sharks winning streak extended to 6 games, but there was a price to pay. Rob Blake was hurt in the second period, and did not return for the third. I expect a call has already been put in to Worchester to call someone up to be available in Detroit for tomorrow night's game. Even if Blake can go, it would still be nice to have another defenseman around in case he can't.