Off to a Good Start

Video Highlights from Last Game

One game into their 11 day road trip, the San Jose Sharks have secured two out of two possible points by defeating a very tough St. Louis Blues team. Again, Team Teal got off to a quick start by generating a two goal lead. Fortunately, unlike the game against Detroit, San Jose was able to keep the lead through the entire 60 minutes.

In the first period, Patrick Marleau got things started 21 seconds into the game when he scored his 38th of the season on a one-timer. On the play, Joe Thornton picked up the rebound off of Dany Heatley's backhand shot and slid it across the top of the crease to a crashing Number 12. With the St. Louis goalie out of position, Marleau simply chipped into the far side of the net for the early one goal lead. Then, at 7:53, the Sharks struck for their second goal when Ryane Clowed slapped in his 14th of the season. A simple shot on net by Scott Nichol turned into a rebound opportunity that Number 29 did not let slide by. Unfortunately, roughly a minute later, Manny Malhotra was called for interference...a very questionable call if you look at the replay, but nonetheless, it earned him two minutes in the box. This man-disadvantage turned into the Blues' first goal of the night when Patrik Berglund wristed a shot past a screened Thomas Greiss. So, at the end of 20 minutes, San Jose still held a one goal lead.

The second period featured a lot of hitting and banging in the corners; Devin Setoguchi, in particular, had an excellent game knocking a number of St. Louis players to the ice. Well, as Randy and Drew pointed out all night, when Number 16 plays tough and gritty, that's when he gets the goals. While on the powerplay, Devin made a sweet move to first deke the defense down low behind the goal line and then power to the front of the crease where he tucked in his 14th of the season by a diving Ty Conklin. Though it was the only goal of the middle stanza...it sure was pretty.

In the final period, the Blues and Sharks traded goals...one from Alex Steen and another from Scott Nichol. There wasn't any real threat of a comeback, but there was a number of scrums that kept the game very entertaining. Next up...Nashville.

Game Notes:

Thomas Greiss had a very good game stopping 35 of 37 shots. I guess that management knew what they were doing when they let Brian Boucher sign with Philly.
I'm not sure if I read his lips correctly, but I believe Scott Nichol might have said, "Oh my God!" after he scored on his slapper in the third period. If that's what he said...funny...gotta love those grinders.
With his 38th goal of the season, Patrick Marleau is now tied with Alex Ovechkin for the league's top goal getter.

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