A San Jose Sharks Blog

In the first period, the Thrashers took the lead nearly eight minutes into the game when Pascal Dupuis scored his 13th goal of the season. Unfortunately for Atlanta, this was going to be their only goal on the night. Six minutes later, Cheechoo scored his first goal of the game to tie the score. Thanks to a heavy forecheck put on by Michalek, Thornton ended up with the puck on his stick down low in the left slot. With Cheechoo sitting in the far right slot, Jumbo Joe sent a nifty little pass over which Cheechoo slammed home. With less than a minute left in the first, the Sharks' top line struck again. From the side boards, Thornton put a slapper on net. With Cheechoo sitting in front, there was a bit of a scrum for the loose puck which slid out towards the right circle. Michalek quickly jumped on the puck and swatted it in for his 23rd goal of the season.

Halfway through the second period, Cheechoo scored his second goal of the game. Michalek again started the play by springing both Thornton and Cheechoo on a 2-on-1 breakaway. Thornton quickly put a shot on and Cheechoo crashed the net; the rebound glanced off of Cheechoo's skate and in to the net. After a short review of the play, it was decided that there was no "distinct kicking motion" and the goal pushed the Sharks' lead to two goals. Less than three minutes later, Mark Bell sent a sweet pass up to a streaking Bill Guerin who skated in alone against the Atlanta goaltender. With a quick snapper upstairs, Guerin increased the lead to three goals. This chased Kari Lehtonen from the net and gave former Sharks goalie, Johan Hedberg, a chance to play.

The final goal of the night came off of a great back-handed pass, from Christian Ehrhoff, to Cheechoo who was sitting in the left slot; with a quick one-timer Cheechoo completed his hat trick.

In the third period, the Sharks shut things down; Vesa Toskala and the rest of the defense did allow eight shots on net, but limited the number of real scoring chances.

To say that the Thornton line is hot would be a major understatement; not only is this line clicking, but the smiles on their faces show that they are having fun, too. Along with the high-powered scoring, the Sharks are still showing their tough side as well. In the second period, Bell took on a much smaller Jonathan Sim; the 5'10" Atlanta winger did his best to scrap with the 6'4" Bell, but with two quick shots from the larger Sharks winger, the fight was over. Unfortunately for Sim, he suffered a fractured orbital bone which essentially ends his season. Bell did show some restraint after sending Sim to the ice, but the damage was already done.

On a night when the Sharks were supposed to be fatigued from the road, I am happy to say that Team Teal came up big and beat a strong Eastern opponent.