Demers, Marleau, & Powerplay Shine Saturday Night

Video Highlights from Last Game

Demers, Marleau, & Powerplay Shine Saturday Night

On Saturday night, the San Jose Sharks got back on track with a victory over the Minnesota Wild who were able to get the early lead on Team Teal. Fortunately, Jason Demers and Patrick Marleau both chipped in two goals apiece which was enough to defeat the fast-skating Wild. On a night where 6 out of the 7 goals were scored on the powerplay, San Jose's special teams experienced both success and failure. Regardless, the Sharks skated away with the two points...a nice bounceback after losing to Chicago.

The first period started out with a lot of energy as both teams were skating very well early. The end to end action and lack of whistles made for some high-paced hockey, but it was Minnesota who struck first. While on the powerplay, former Sharks Captain Owen Nolan scored his 13th goal on the season at 6:25. Skating hard toward the crease, Nolan scored on a half slapper / half redirect that rattled in off the near post past Evgeni Nabokov.

Roughly five minutes later, San Jose got on the board with a powerplay goal of their own. With Demers working the point, the Sharks unit was able to get the puck back to the rookie defenseman who was able to slap in his 3rd goal of the season on a slightly screened Wild goaltender.

The rest of the first 20 minutes saw more consistent play from Ryane Clowe, Manny Malhotra, Jed Ortmeyer, and Scott Nichol...the tough grinders in teal who have proven themselves so important to this squad. Unfortunately, there was one final goal in the first period scored by Minnesota that came with 18 seconds left on the clock. Somehow, while on the powerplay, Cal Clutterbuck found himself unchecked in front of the net and was able to put a one-timer past Nabby for his 10th of the season. With the two powerplay goals on the board, it sure didn't feel like our PK was Number One in the league.

In the second period, Demers and the powerplay got on the board again. On the play, Number 60 was able to hold the zone when he gloved down a clearing attempt and drop it down to his stick. Then, with a quick move to his right, Demers wristed in his 4th goal of the season and 2nd of the game as Devin Setoguchi provided the screen in front.

Throughout the period, the Wild continued to pepper Nabokov with a number of strong shots...especially while on the powerplay. Fortunately, Number 20 was able to stand tall and keep Minnesota off the scoreboard. Except on one play, Nabby needed defenseman Jay Leach to save his bacon. While challenging a shooter out in front of his crease, Evgeni found himself beaten by a shot that was headed towards the back of the net. Fortunately, Leach was guarding the near post and got a stick on the puck before it crossed the goal line.

Then, with just over three minutes left in the middle stanza, the Sharks powerplay struck again. At 16:57, the red hot US Olympian, Joe Pavelski, scored his 15th of the season with a wicked wrist shot. On the play, the Wild cleared the puck to mid-ice, but Marleau pushed it back up to Pavelski quickly who was able to beat the forecheck, skate down low, and rip one past from just six feet out. For good measure, Number 8 leaped over a diving shot block attempt, celebrated in mid-air, and came down en route to clipping Josh Harding in the crease...who had just been beaten for the 3rd time on the night.

The third period featured even more San Jose Sharks offense as the NHL's leading goal scorer added two more...one on the powerplay and one at even strength. More than halfway through the period, Team Teal found itself on the powerplay which didn't last very long as Marleau was able to snipe the near corner seven seconds into the man advantage. Then, at 16:25, Number 12 tallied his 37th of the season on a beautiful play. On the rush, Dany Heatley sent a pass across the slot towards Marleau who was crashing on the far side. With a Minnesota defender in between them, the puck hit a stick and ramped up 2 - 3 feet into the air. Without blinking an eye, Patrick swatted it in from mid-air and iced the game with a bit of circus magic.

Though the final score looked like a blowout, it was much closer in reality...Nabby's 28 saves over the last 40 minutes was the difference.

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