The Calgary Flames came to San Jose Monday night only to be beaten out in the back ally and left there with no remorse. In a game where 14 of the 18 sharks players had points, the Flames looked like a team searching for answers, while the Sharks looked like a team ready for their four games in a six day stretch.
This game was a blow out if you did not see it; 9-1 to be exact. When the Sharks went up 7-0 early in the 3rd period, I honestly had hopes of seeing a 10-0 game. However, Robyn Regehr ended his 142 game goal-less drought with a slap shot from the point seven minutes into the third period. Congrats to Robyn……….kind of.
Former Sharks goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was flooded with 34 shots, letting in six goals, before he was pulled in favor of McElhinney at the start of the third period. McElhinney could do no better in the third period, also allowing in three goals on 12 shots.
Everyone had a hand in on the scoring last night. Joe Pavelski snapped out of his nine game goal drought and added three assists. Devin Setoguchi kept his hot streak going with a goal and an assist as did Rob Blake, Ryan Clowe, and Manny Malhotra.
Scott Nichol and Jed Ortmeyer each had three points and were a combined +7. The “Burger Line” only contributed four points on the night, but who needed them when everyone and their cousins were scoring goals.
Here are the game highlights for you to enjoy:
This is bar none the best the game the San Jose Sharks have played as a team this season. Calgary is no weak team by any means. We all can remember the battle we had with them in the playoffs two seasons ago that went seven games. Maybe they just had a very off night? Who knows? I like to think however that the Sharks had a very good night.
At the end of the day, credit needs to be given where credit is due. And all the credit last night must go to the entire San Jose Sharks team. If the secondary lines can score like they did last night for the Sharks, the NHL needs to be warned about what might be happening in San Jose come April and maybe May.
My 3 Stars of the Game:
1st Star: Joe Pavelski – Goal, 3 Assists, +3
2nd Star: Scott Nichol – Goal, 2 Assists, +4
3rd Star: Jed Ortmeyer – Goal, 2 Assists, +3
The Sharks are in Los Angeles to play the Kings tonight. The Puck drops at 7:30