Sharks Hang On After Second Period Explosion, Edge Canucks 3-2
San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) tries to control the puck as Vancouver Canucks center Jordan Schroeder (45) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Scoring In Bulk- Andrew Desjardins, Joe Thornton and Logan Couture all scored goals in a 2:13 stretch of the second period as the San Jose Sharks would hold on late to edge the visiting Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Another full house at the Shark Tank witnessed Antti Niemi make 23 saves in net to support the Sharks three goal eruption. With the win the Sharks have captured their fifth straight win for their second longest winning streak of this lockout shortened season. The Sharks remain in sixth place in the overall Western Conference with an 18-11-6 mark good enough for 42 points in the standings. The Sharks moved to within one point of the Los Angeles Kings who were idle, and kept a point ahead of Detroit who also won Monday night versus Colorado. Also noteworthy item in the game was Ryane Clowe being a healthy scratch which could mean anything or nothing.
Early Dominance- The Sharks early in the game were able to establish themselves and gave Canucks goalie Cory Schneider some challenges early, and as it turned out often at least through the first two periods. Martin Havlat twice had good scoring chances on Schneider, as did Patrick Marleau. The Sharks on three different occasions stormed the Vancouver goal and each time somehow Schneider was able to come away holding the rubber biscuit. Despite outshooting the Canucks 14-6 in the opening period, all the Sharks could show for their efforts was a scoreless tie. However team teal was anything but discouraged. The Sharks came out a harder charging bunch in the middle period and brought more heat to the ice. Schneider would still make the early saves for the Canucks.
133 Seconds- The Sharks barrage started when Desjardins was the recipient of an errant back handed clearing attempt by the Canucks’ Alex Elder. Desjardins immediately drilled the puck back towards the Canucks goal and got it past Schneider who was completely screened out to give the Sharks a one goal lead. Just a moment later in the Canucks defensive zone Thornton was able to take a loose puck away from the stick of Christopher Tanev and he drilled a slap shot that beat Schneider for the Sharks second goal in 41 seconds. A short moment later the Canucks’ Kevin Bieksa would get called for interference sending team teal to the Power Player. The Sharks here would actually advert a short handed disaster as Niemi was able to stop a Jannik Hansen wrist shot off of a breakaway. The Sharks however would regain possession of the puck and return up the ice in possession of the rubber biscuit. Marleau from right of the goal would pass the puck over to Couture, who in trying to get it on his stick accidently hit is skate and rolled into the net. The officials upheld the call because Couture made no kicking motion. The Sharks in just over two minutes built up a quick 3-0 lead.
Hanging On- The Sharks would get challenges from the Canucks for the rest of the game. Vancouver did their best to get back into the game and did not go down easily or without a fight. Chris Higgins late in the middle period beat Niemi with a 20 foot wrist shot to pull the Canucks back to within two. In the third period the Sharks had some early opportunities and a power play where they would fall short on. Halfway through the third period Burrows would take a blue line feed pass from Hansen and knock the puck past Niemi to make it a one goal game. However that is as close as the Canucks would get as the Sharks held on over final nine minutes of the game surviving some late charges from the blue and green.
Shark Bytes- The Three Stars of the Game were (3) Andrew Desjardens-Sharks, (2) Chris Higgins-Canucks, and 1) Joe Thornton-Sharks…Tonight Matt Tennyson became the first ever player from the Junior Sharks to become a member of the parent club. Tennyson wore #80 Monday night. Per TSN Ryane Clowe’s healthy scratch was a mutual agreement between Clowe and the Sharks. Vancouver has only won twice this season in games where they have allowed more than two goals. The Sharks have also activated back up goalie Thomas Greiss from injured reserve and he served as Niemi’s backup. Alex Stalock was reassigned to Worcester…
Next Sharks Game- Wednesday Night (4/3) the Sharks take on the Minnesota Wild in their first of two games at the Shark Tank in April. Wednesday’s game is at 7:30pm PDT and can be seen on Comcast Plus. It’s Dany Healey’s, Torrey Mitchell’s and Devin Setoguchi’s return to the Shark Tank. It’s also former Sharks first round draft choice Charlie Coyle’s first time in the Tank. The game will be carried on CSN California Plus as well as the Sharks Radio Network (98.5FM San Jose, 102.1FM San Francisco).
The KingShark
Be sure to follow all of your BoT staff on twitter!!!
The Jessica Redfield Ghawi Foundation:
Stand Up 2 Cancer:
http://www.standup2cancer.org/
So, So Much Hope
Sandy Hook Family Fund: