Stalock Shines In Season Debut as Sharks Take Down Ottawa 5-2
Oct 27, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Stalock (32) makes a save on a shot by Ottawa Senators right wing Chris Neil (25) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Sharks defeated the Senators 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Stalock Wins Debut- Alex Stalock made 38 saves in his season debut in the Sharks net as Team Teal defeated the Ottawa Senators Sunday 5-2 to wrap up the eastern swing of the current five game road trip. Stalock started the game in place of the Sharks regular starter Antti Niemi who took the day off after 11 straight starts to open the season. Stalock made 16 of his 38 saves in the first period to hold off an early Ottawa assault as the Sharks managed to stake him to a two goal lead in the opening period.
Oct 27, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; The San Jose Sharks celebrate goal scored by centre Tommy Wingels (57) in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
First Period is A Big Teal Deal- The Sharks got goals from Tomas Hertl, Andrew Desjardins, and Tommy Wingels in the opening period to give Team Teal a huge advantage. Hertl lit the lamp just 1:16 into the game after receiving a short feed pass from Joe Thornton right in front of the Ottawa goal crease. It was Hertl’s eighth goal of the season as he beat Senators net minder Craig Anderson to his right. The Sharks would later add to this lead five and a half minutes when Desjardins drilled in a backhanded shot that beat Anderson top shelf. Stalock would save the first seven shots on goal from the Senators. On the eighth Ottawa try Erik Karlsson drilled a hard slap shot from the point that beat Stalock cleanly to get the Senators to within a goal. Stalock however seemed not be phased by the score and would go on to stop the next eight Ottawa shots of the period. Late in the period the Senators would go on the power play when the newest Shark Mike Brown was called for an interference penalty. However laxed play by Ottawa would cost them when a mishandled puck would lead to a Logan Couture breakaway. With Kyle Turris tailing him Couture put a quick shot on the net that Anderson was able to save. However the puck rolled away from Anderson and Tommy Wingles trailing behind Turris he was able to get to the lose puck first and put it in the net giving the Sharks a huge short-handed goal and a 3-1 lead.
Stalock Holds The Fort- Stalock over the next two periods would see 23 more shots on goal and only allow one to get by him, a second period score from Marc Methot. Stalock would make some rather impressive looking saves on Milan Michalek, Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Patrick Wiercioch, and Joe Corvo. The Sharks added goals in the third period from James Sheppard and Joe Pavelski to put the game out of reach and secure the Sharks third win in the first four games of their current road trip.
Twitter Quote- From Logan Couture “We could have had 8 points on this trip very easily with one mistake there in Boston that cost us a couple points, but it’s good to get 6 out of 8.” … courtesy of @SanJoseSharks
Next Sharks Game- After the game concluded the team got on AirShark to come back home to San Jose to get a full days rest on Monday. The Sharks now look ahead to their final game of the road trip Wednesday night (Oct. 30th) in Los Angeles against the rival Kings. This will be the Sharks first visit to Southern California since their post season ended in late May. One of the big reasons for the Sharks early surge may be in part because of their series with the Kings. The Sharks have grown much as a team since while the Kings are now a respected powerhouse in the Western Conference. This should be interesting to say the very least. Game Time from the Staples Center is 7:30pm Wednesday Night.
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