Blades of Teal
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Martin Jones Theft Brings San Jose Sharks Win

By MJ Kasprzak

January 9, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) stretches during the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks defeated the Maple Leafs 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 9, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) stretches during the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks defeated the Maple Leafs 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Martin Jones theft finally brought the San Jose Sharks another win over the Pacific Division-rival Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, Dec. 27…

The San Jose Sharks stayed alive in their 2016-17 NHL season series with the Pacific Division-rival Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, Dec. 27. However, it took overtime and a Martin Jones theft to make it happen.

Jones has played all four games against Anaheim. Whether San Jose coach Peter DeBoer acknowledges it or not, the history of such workloads is undeniable.

The Ducks have a point in every game of the season series. Both their wins came in regulation while the Sharks needed overtime for their prior win, too.

Related Story: Scoring MIA in San Jose Sharks Win Over Anaheim Ducks

Thus, just one point in the finale in San Jose March 18 wins the series for Anaheim. For now, this win puts 2.5 games between the teams so far this 2016-17 NHL season.

The Ducks are four-time defending Pacific Division champions. The Sharks last won the division in the 2010-11 NHL season.

Anaheim has benefitted from some luck the last time these teams met. This time, San Jose got the bounces.

Gameplay

May 23, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) is congratulated by goalie James Reimer (34) after defeating the St. Louis Blues in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The Sharks won the game 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Sharks should consider how important a good backup goalie is. The arrival of James Reimer (34) to share the workload last season likely led to an extra Martin Jones (31) theft during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

The first came 6:30 into the game when Logan Couture knocked over the goalie. Officials correctly ruled the Ducks drove him into the net. He got an assist when Paul Martin potted the goal for the Sharks into the cage vacated by John Gibson.

However, that kind of call has already gone against San Jose in this 2016-17 NHL season series. Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle chose not to challenge the call. Mikkel Boedker got the other assist because the score started when he drove the puck to the net.

The Sharks survived the rest of the first period despite being outshot 14-6. They responded with four of the first five shots in the second, but then gave up seven unanswered. The Ducks tied the game on the sixth 8:22 after intermission.

However, San Jose actually outshot its host after allowing that seventh consecutive shot. Another lucky bounce almost six minutes after the goal tied the game.

Joel Ward threw the puck toward the slot where Melker Karlsson deflected it past Gibson. Brent Burns got the secondary assist for advancing the puck in the neutral zone.

However, Ryan Kesler finally got rewarded on the scoreboard for a great night with 6:25 to play. He took an Andrew Cogliano drop pass and fired it off Jakob Silfverberg to tie the game for Anaheim.

That held up until 2:46 into overtime. The Sharks scored on the only shot of the extra session for the second game in a row. Captain Joe Pavelski threaded a pass between the legs of fellow American Cam Fowler to Burns for a backhand.

Jan 30, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Pacific Division defenseman Brent Burns (88) of the San Jose Sharks stands on the red carpet with teammate Pacific Division forward Joe Pavelski (8) prior to the 2016 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
All-Star San Jose Sharks Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski combined on the final score to secure the Martin Jones theft: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

(How appropriate is it that the Wookie scored the winner on the night Carrie Fisher died? It was also the perfect time for me to see the film for the first time. It was as good as any of them, and the Alamo Theatre in San Francisco was ready with a tribute.)

Beyond the Numbers

The event summary shows Anaheim’s overall advantage. The top faceoff team so far this 2016-17 NHL season beat the third-worst 35-21 in the circle yet had two fewer giveaways (9-11), two more takeaways (6-4) and eight more hits (25-17). That resulted in 23 more attempts (71-48) and 11 more shots (36-25), yet San Jose had two fewer blocks (12-14).

In other words, the Martin Jones theft is the only explanation for the win. Hopefully, he gets one night of the coming back-to-back set off.

The Sharks are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers Friday. A visit with the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Kings follows on New Year’s Eve.

San Jose has now won seven of eight and 13 of 17. More consistent scoring is a primary reason—it has been 19 games since last getting shutout, with two goals in 18 of them.

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