Ryane Clowe scored what turned out to be the games’ only goal just 1:22 into the first period, and Antti Niemi made 26 saves to post his 18th career shutout as the San Jose Sharks edged the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 at the Shark Tank Tuesday Night. This was the first home game for the Sharks in 18 days after a brutal nine game road trip where team teal only won twice, and the Sharks sure looked happy to be back in their friendly confines. Tonight also marked the first full game that Head Coach Todd McLellan has missed in his four years behind the Sharks bench as he’s recovering from a concussion he suffered in Minnesota Sunday. Matt Shaw and Jay Woodcroft would be in charge from behind team teal’s bench. Logan Couture also missed the game as he was out with an lower body injury.
Niemi was on top of his game Tuesday night and he had to be as the Flyers throughout the game had several good scoring chances inside of the Sharks zone. Niemi’s counter part was long time Sharks nemesis Ilya Bryzgalov who despite allowing the early goal went on to make 22 saves and frustrated team teal throughout the evening. The two new Sharks acquired Monday in the Jamie McGinn trade, Daniel Winnik and TJ Galiardi made their team teal debuts. Winnik had a good game with strong minutes getting 18:53 of ice time in 24 shifts opening on the Sharks second shift. Giliardi was in for 17 shifts for 12:53 and did fine on the third shift, though he probably was the most bruised Shark of the evening as he took a series of hits from the Flyers up ice. This was a game that lived up to it’s billing, though very few thought this would end up as a 1-0 game.
Recapping the Sharks Return to The Tank:
The Philadelphia Story- The Sharks got things started quickly when Clowe was able to wrist a shot past Bryzgalov to give the Sharks a one goal lead just 82 seconds into the contest. Clowe took a perfect feed pass from Joe Thonrton and did the rest, getting the only puck that would see the back of the net against the veteran net minder. Thornton took the rubber biscuit up the ice after the Sharks won the battle for the puck deep in their defensive zone. The Sharks rode the momentum off the goal to launch a heavy handed attack in the Flyers defensive end and came close to adding another goal, however Bryzgalov would deny the Sharks on their many scoring opportunities after Clowe’s goal. Bryzgalov would deny Clowe’s bid to stuff in a second puck just moments after he scored, and in the same sequence a slap shot from Justin Braun from the right point hit the left post. With 6:05 to go in the first, Dan Boyle received the puck on his stick while in the slot and had a point blank opportunity. Boyle too would be denied when Bryzgalov turned away his attempt to score through the five hole. Joe Pavelski would also would have a hard slap shot from the point late in the period denied by Bryzgalov. The Sharks had a sizable forecheck for the lions share of the period.
Meanwhile as the period wore on Niemi would be called upon as the Flyers would start establishing their own forecheck. Niemi was up to the task making 10 saves in the opening period. Things got rather choppy around the Sharks net towards the end of the period as Wayne Simmonds and Mark-Edouard Vlasic would exchange elbows. Another scrum involving Simmonds happened at the end of the period a few seconds later as Brad Winchester and Simmonds would mix it up. The officials determined that Winchester had started the scrum and gave him a two minute roughing penalty. The Simmonds-Vlasic scrap developed after a shot from the point from the Flyers Andrej Meszaros knuckle-balled towards Niemi who made the save while falling backwards. As Niemi was falling Simmonds and Brayden Schenn both dove for the puck. As the whistle blew, there was temporary chaos that subsided once both teams headed back to their locker rooms. The Sharks out shot the Flyers 11-10 in the first period.
Goalies Taking All The Liberties- The Sharks would take care of business as they would kill of the Flyers power play opportunity, however the penalty kill did not come easily. Philadelphia’s best opportunity came when Daniel Briere’s slap shot from near the slot came in hard on Niemi who still managed to make the save. Niemi however was not able to control the puck. Luckily for the Sharks Thornton was standing next to the crease and was able to quickly clear the loose puck out of harms way. The Flyers however would stay the aggressor early in the second period and continued to effectively execute their forecheck and keep team teal trapped in their defensive zone for a good portion of the period. However no matter how hard the Flyers tried and tried again, Niemi was up for task and the Sharks did one of their better jobs at flooding shooting lanes and collapsing around their net this season.
The Sharks did have some opportunities in the second period and just narrowly missed a second goal twice. The first time was with 10:35 remaining in the second period when Patrick Marleau during a Sharks power play had a clear shot at the goal and shot the puck past Bryzgalov. The puck hit the post behind the Flyers net minder and bounced off of his back shoulder and dropped in the crease behind him. Bryzgalov recovered the puck before it could be pushed past the goal line. Towards the end of the period, Marleau’s second chance was point blank in front of Bryzgalov. As Marleau tried to get some lift on the shot, the puck would still end up bouncing off the Philadelphia net minder who made the save. The Flyers would out shoot team teal in the second period 7-6.
What the Bell is Going On Here?- The first two periods were intense. The third period was a white knuckle ride not for the weak or weary. The Sharks had a good chance very early in the third period when Thornton took a perfect feed pass from Winnik and seemed to have Bryzgalov beaten. Unfortunately for Thornton and the Sharks, as Thornton set up for the back handed shot, he mis-timed the exact second to shoot and attempted the shot a split second early. This split second would make all of the difference in the world as Bryzgalov was able to get a glove hand on the puck and swat it away.
Moments later, recently acquired Flyer Pavel Kubina during a Flyers scoring chance got off a clean slap shot that Niemi stopped but was not able to control. The puck bounced loosely around the Sharks goal area before it was cleared in another battle around the net. The Flyers continued a strong forecheck. The Sharks continued with a strong defense and Niemi on top of his game. Niemi late would deny a bid from former Shark Matt Carle. With 42 seconds to play, things really got crazy around the Sharks net as the Flyers made a furious and desperate attempt to tie the game and came very close to doing just that. Niemi had to save shots from the slot by Jaromir Jagr and two shots from Braydon Coburn. The one shot Niemi could not save, the point blank shot from Claude Giroux was saved by Torrey Mitchell who along with Boyle put themselves in front of the net as Niemi scrambled to get back upright and in position. After successfully turning away the Flyers team photo in that last sequence, Niemi had one more shot to deny, that coming from Jagr. Niemi made the glove save as the horn sounded. Both teams very anxious to congratulate one another on a good game from behind the Sharks goal, but the officials thought that might not be a good idea and broke up the congratulatory post game hugs.
Game Analysis- The Sharks were certainly glad to be home after that road trip that seemed longer than nine games. The Sharks had one of those games that I hope lifts their psyche and “clears the sinuses”. Though this was probably one of the more entertaining 1-0 games you’ll ever see, this was as Sharks Color Commentator Drew Remenda called “A Battle”. It certainly was, and the game actually had a playoff atmosphere and feel to it. The Flyers threw everything at the Sharks but the kitchen sink and were never out of the game until the final horn had sounded. The Sharks probably had two or three goals get away from them in this game, but that’s what makes Bryzgalov so good, he can stop almost anything that comes his way. As for Niemi, what a performance. Niemi really needed this one as the road trip for him was nothing short of a nightmare. Winnik and Galiardi had good debuts in teal, however Galiardi may request combat pay after this one as he took several shots all night long. To his credit, Galiardi kept coming back and was a big help. McGinn was missed and will be missed for sure, however it’s now time to turn that page and move forward. The Sharks if they are going to overtake Phoenix in the Pacific Division need to start putting together a late run while they still can. To do that they will need to get more defensive and goal tending performances like tonight. The hope here is that soon Dominic Moore, Marty Havlet, Douglas Murray and of course Couture will soon be back. The Sharks will need this guys if they are to get to a good spot in the post season…or make the post season at all…
GO SHARKS!!! GREAT JOB TONIGHT, WELCOME HOME!!! NEXT UP: BUFFALO!!!
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