|
|
PP erupts in first game
back SJ sets franchise record with 5
PPG 2/28/06 - by Mike Lee
The Sharks
returned to action following the Olympic break on Tuesday night, taking
advantage of a depleted Detroit Red Wings squad, who played without five
regulars. They'll need to take full advantage of every opportunity that their
opponents offer up as they chase a playoff spot with 29 games remaining in the
regular season. San Jose set a franchise record in a 5-1 win over the visiting
Red Wings, by scoring all five goals on the power play.
Blowing out a
team like the Red Wings needs to be enjoyed with guarded enthusiasm. Skating
without Niklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson and Henrik
Zetterberg, all Swedish gold medalists, the Red Wings were not the same team
who had reeled off six straight wins before the break or the team with the best
record in the league.
The Sharks did what they needed to do in order
to stay in the playoff hunt. They dominated the opening period, controlling the
flow for the entire 20 minutes. Red Wings Manny Legace kept Detroit close,
allowing only a Nils Ekman goal.
"For any team it's tough if you take
five key guys out of the lineup," Legace said. "That's no excuse, no excuse at
all. We were in the game until the 10-minute mark. I've just got to make saves
on penalty kills. I didn't tonight and it cost us.'
The pace would
continue into the middle period and the Sharks capitalized. Joe Thornton setup
Jonathan Cheechoo's 35th goal of the season with a highlight reel move on Wings
defenseman Andreas Lilja. Skating at the bottom of the left circle toward the
net, Thornton faked a move to his left, baiting Lilja with the puck, then cut
back to his right before firing a pass across the slot to Cheechoo on the off
post.
"They were obviously missing five key players and we're trying
to gain that final playoff spot," Thornton said. "We need every win, every
game. I hope we make the playoffs and face them again."
Rookie Brett
Lebda cut the Sharks lead to 2-1 late in the period to keep Detroit close.
Lebda's goal was the only blemish on Sharks goaltender Vesa Toskala's evening.
The one reminder of the Sharks nagging woes was a
failed penalty shot attempt by Ekman seven minutes into the 3rd period. Ekman
was hauled down by Jason Williams after taking a pass at center ice after
stepping out of the penalty box. Legace stoned Ekman after the Sharks winger
tried a series of wide sweeping turns on the ensuing penalty shot.
Having already converted on two power play chances, the Sharks carved up the
Red Wings during a span of 3:12 midway through the period.
Patrick
Marleau scored his 26th of the season on a tap in after Ekman sent a shot on
net at 10:36. Christian Ehrhoff, fresh off his Olympic stint with Team Germany,
cranked home his second goal of the season with a blast from the blueline after
Brendan Shanahan was sent off for tripping.
"It's important to get
back on a good roll," Ehrhoff said. "We know we're good and we're still
developing. We just need to go into those games and keep winning."
Thornton capped his four-point evening with a goal of his own on a wrist shot
from the left dot.
"It's disappointing," Detroit coach Mike Babcock
said. "They found a way to shoot it into the net, and we weren't as good."
|
What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
DET |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
SJ |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
1st period - 1, San
Jose, Ekman 15 (J.Thornton, Cheechoo), 3:34, (pp). |
|
|
2nd period - 2, San
Jose, Cheechoo 35 (J.Thornton, Marleau), 6:54, (pp). 3, Detroit, Lebda 3
(Shanahan, Datsyuk), 18:29. |
|
|
3rd period - 4, San
Jose, Marleau 26 (Ekman, J.Thornton), 10:36, (pp). 5, San Jose, Ehrhoff 2
(Marleau, Cheechoo), 11:41, (pp). 6, San Jose, J.Thornton 22 (Ehrhoff,
Preissing), 13:48, (pp). |
|
|
|
|
|
1st period - Ehrhoff,
SJS (holding), 0:18; Kopecky, DET (tripping), 2:23; Murray, SJS (holding),
18:34. |
|
|
2nd period - Chelios,
DET (interference), 5:43; Maltby, DET (hooking), 6:26; S.Thornton, SJS
(hooking), 7:01; Williams, DET (hooking), 8:16; Lilja, DET (high-sticking),
13:35. |
|
|
3rd period - Woolley,
DET (hooking), 4:50; Ekman, SJS (hooking), 4:57; McLaren, SJS (holding), 6:56;
Schneider, DET (holding), 10:17; Shanahan, DET (tripping), 11:10; Mowers, DET
(roughing), 12:46; Bernier, SJS (roughing), 12:46; Shanahan, DET (slashing),
12:58; Murray, SJS (boarding), 15:41; Preissing, SJS (holding), 17:09; Draper,
DET (slashing), 19:11. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shots |
Saves |
DET - Legace |
32 |
27 |
SJ - Toskala |
29 |
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
DET |
7 |
7 |
15 |
29 |
SJ |
11 |
10 |
11 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Referees: Tom Kowal, Dean
Warren. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Vaughan Rody. |
|
|
|
|
|