Blades of Teal
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Joonas Donskoi Settling Into Top Line Role With San Jose Sharks

By Patrick Leiva

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The San Jose Sharks have incorporated many new and young faces into their lineup this season, and to this point, Joonas Donskoi has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Sharks through the first 13 games.

While Donskoi missed five games due to injury last month, he’s bounced back and played some of his best hockey in the early going. Donskoi has been one of, if not, the best Sharks forward over the past two games as he appears much more comfortable with the style of play at the NHL level. Also, Donskoi is settling in with his fellow linemates in Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.

Granted, any player would love to play alongside those two, but Donskoi’s performance has shown he belongs on that top line and warrants the ice time he’s received. He ranks sixth on the Sharks team with a Corsi For percentage of 55.1 percent, which shows he can help control possession.

Through eight games, Donskoi has posted two goals and one assist with a plus-four rating and 14 shots on goal while averaging 14:36 of ice time. He broke through with his second goal of the season in last night’s 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. It was Donskoi’s first goal since the season-opener against the Los Angeles Kings, and it came on a net-mouth scramble in front where he was able to poke home the rebound and give San Jose a 2-0 lead at the time.

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Later in the game, Donskoi appeared to have his well-deserved second goal of the night when he ripped one past backup netminder Al Montoya on the short side, but unfortunately, after a coach’s challenge, it was deemed that the Sharks were offside entering the zone; therefore, the goal was wiped off the board.

It was too bad the goal couldn’t stand for Donskoi, who was also robbed on a couple of different occasions by Columbus netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. Donskoi was by far San Jose’s best forward in an otherwise lackluster by the Sharks on that night, and it was epitomized by his steal and feed to Pavelski in front for his second goal of the night. It’s those kind of individual efforts that have Sharks fans and players taking notice of Donskoi’s play.

He always seems to be around the puck and is getting better at protecting and holding on to it in the battles along the boards. Also, Donskoi is not afraid to crash the net as both of his goals have come with Donskoi in the blue paint area.

With the Sharks struggling to find scoring sources from their depth players, it would be a big boost if Donskoi could chip in with more production on a consistent basis.

Next: San Jose Sharks Get Back On Track In Win Over Panthers

If his play of late is any indication, Sharks fans should get used to seeing Donskoi celebrate, and boy would that be a most welcome of sight for someone nobody knew what to expect of heading into this season.

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