San Jose Sharks Ride Hot Start to Defeat Vancouver Canucks

Mar 3, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney (50) celebrates his goal with the bench against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The San Jose Sharks sure know how to make things interesting. After storming out to an early 3-0 lead, San Jose saw the Vancouver Canucks score two goals in the second period to cut the deficit to one.

However, the Sharks were able to reverse their recent trend of folding after conceding goals. San Jose responded with the next three goals for a huge 6-2 road win at Rogers Arena Tuesday night.

It was a big victory for the Sharks as San Jose closed the gap on the Canucks, while also keeping pace with everyone else around them in the Western Conference standings. Also, it was the first time since the end of January that San Jose has won consecutive games, and the Sharks have now won five straight regular season games in Vancouver.

What a turnaround the past two games have been for the Sharks who appeared dead in the water as February concluded. Chris Tierney, Melker Karlsson and Logan Couture opened the scoring for San Jose, who chased Vancouver netminder Jacob Markstrom just 7:45 into the game.

After Henrik Sedin scored two goals in the second, it looked like the Sharks might let things slip away. The turning point in the game came when Patrick Marleau stole the puck and fed Matt Nieto who netted the first of his two goals on the night, and first goal since Jan. 19.

Shortly after, San Jose took back-to-back penalties, but the Sharks were able to kill off the five-on-three power play and maintained their lead the rest of the way, before adding two late empty-net goals.

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It was another strong effort up-and-down the lineup as the Sharks received goals from three of their four lines and one from their defense. Antti Niemi was strong in goal with 26 stops, including several big saves on the penalty kill.

The Sharks are proving that there is still a pulse emanating from San Jose, and they can get some rest before gearing up to take on the Canucks again at SAP Center on Saturday night.

San Jose can take confidence in the fact that everyone is contributing and they seem to have found the right way to play. Since the trade deadline, the Sharks have outscored their opponents 10-2 and more impressively, they appear to have regained their defensive identity.

It’s still a dogfight for San Jose to extend their consecutive playoff streak to 11 seasons, but the Sharks are finally showing real signs of life.