This staying perfect stuff isn't getting any easier for the San Jose Sharks. Sure, that they're 7-0 and the NHL's only team that hasn't tasted defeat is exciting; that it's the best start in franchise history is inspiring; that the penalty kill is actually killing penalties is refreshing; that Antti Niemi has been voted the No. 1 star of the last two three games is promising; and that the Sharks have won the last two games via shootouts after arguably being outplayed by their opponents is surprising. ...
But what a difference nine days made; it was a much different story the second time San Jose played Edmonton. After blitzing the Oilers for six first-period goals and then coasting to a 6-3 win last week, the Sharks had to grind out Thursday's 3-2 victory at HP Pavilion. It was sort of like the previous game, when Anaheim clearly was the better team in San Jose, but also lost in a 3-2 shootout. The Sharks weren't dominated by the Oilers like the Ducks, but there were times when Edmonton's absurdly talented young forwards like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner and Nail Yakupov were buzzing in the offensive end. But credit Niemi...
...For mostly keeping the dangerous Oilers in check. The first goal he allowed was a point shot from Mark Fistric deflected in by Gagner. The second was a brilliant and unselfish passing clinic between Eberle and Hall. Other than that, Niemi continued showing signs he's returning to his 2010 Stanley Cup-winning form in Chicago. He looks far more confident corralling pucks and not allowing cheap rebound goals. If he flat out stole the Anaheim game, he was an accessory to a crime in holding off the
resurgent Oilers, whose own goalie Devan Dubnyk...
...Did his best to carry his team to a redemption win after being benched for the six pack of goals Dubnyk allowed in one period during the team's first meeting. The Sharks put on a big push in overtime, but even a late power play wasn't enough to solve Dubnyk. You knew he was focused right away when Martin Havlat's breakaway goal was saved by young Dubnyk (let's face it, the Oilers could be a Western Conference power for a while if all these promising players continue to improve). The Sharks' Marleau-Thornton combination that was joysticking its way to video game numbers early was shut down by Edmonton. In fact, over the 39 seconds where San Jose scored its two goals in the second period, both were off broken plays/Oiler turnovers cashed in by first Couture -complete with his paying homage to Colin Kaepernick- and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks had to win without Marleau and Thornton...
...Making life miserable for the lines who have had to match up with those two along with Pavelski early in the season. Getting to a shootout meant another goal for Michal Handzus, who has found the back of the net twice in consecutive shootout games, but has yet to score a point during games. Coach Todd McLellan has been playing line-shifter lately, and whether you agree with his choices and combinations, it's tough to nitpick about the ultimate results. But we shall see when San Jose gets away from the Shark Tank and embarks on that six-game roadie, "highlighted" by TWO visits to Chicago (plus a home showdown with the Blackhawks on Tuesday), beginning in about 10 days. But how about that penalty kill? Sixteen consecutive power plays successfully repelled! So two interesting streaks -the penalty kills plus the seven wins without tasting defeat- will be on the line when San Jose concludes an already splendid six-game homestand by welcoming the scoring-challenged but goaltender-dominated (one Peka Rinne) Predators on Saturday night.
But what a difference nine days made; it was a much different story the second time San Jose played Edmonton. After blitzing the Oilers for six first-period goals and then coasting to a 6-3 win last week, the Sharks had to grind out Thursday's 3-2 victory at HP Pavilion. It was sort of like the previous game, when Anaheim clearly was the better team in San Jose, but also lost in a 3-2 shootout. The Sharks weren't dominated by the Oilers like the Ducks, but there were times when Edmonton's absurdly talented young forwards like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner and Nail Yakupov were buzzing in the offensive end. But credit Niemi...
...For mostly keeping the dangerous Oilers in check. The first goal he allowed was a point shot from Mark Fistric deflected in by Gagner. The second was a brilliant and unselfish passing clinic between Eberle and Hall. Other than that, Niemi continued showing signs he's returning to his 2010 Stanley Cup-winning form in Chicago. He looks far more confident corralling pucks and not allowing cheap rebound goals. If he flat out stole the Anaheim game, he was an accessory to a crime in holding off the
resurgent Oilers, whose own goalie Devan Dubnyk...
...Did his best to carry his team to a redemption win after being benched for the six pack of goals Dubnyk allowed in one period during the team's first meeting. The Sharks put on a big push in overtime, but even a late power play wasn't enough to solve Dubnyk. You knew he was focused right away when Martin Havlat's breakaway goal was saved by young Dubnyk (let's face it, the Oilers could be a Western Conference power for a while if all these promising players continue to improve). The Sharks' Marleau-Thornton combination that was joysticking its way to video game numbers early was shut down by Edmonton. In fact, over the 39 seconds where San Jose scored its two goals in the second period, both were off broken plays/Oiler turnovers cashed in by first Couture -complete with his paying homage to Colin Kaepernick- and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks had to win without Marleau and Thornton...
...Making life miserable for the lines who have had to match up with those two along with Pavelski early in the season. Getting to a shootout meant another goal for Michal Handzus, who has found the back of the net twice in consecutive shootout games, but has yet to score a point during games. Coach Todd McLellan has been playing line-shifter lately, and whether you agree with his choices and combinations, it's tough to nitpick about the ultimate results. But we shall see when San Jose gets away from the Shark Tank and embarks on that six-game roadie, "highlighted" by TWO visits to Chicago (plus a home showdown with the Blackhawks on Tuesday), beginning in about 10 days. But how about that penalty kill? Sixteen consecutive power plays successfully repelled! So two interesting streaks -the penalty kills plus the seven wins without tasting defeat- will be on the line when San Jose concludes an already splendid six-game homestand by welcoming the scoring-challenged but goaltender-dominated (one Peka Rinne) Predators on Saturday night.
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