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Sharks weather a Wild
storm
Pavelski's 15th saves Sharks
With the skies above San Jose opening up all day
Thursday, it was fitting that they would have to weather a constant stream of
pressure from a team that's fighting to get its season on track. Sitting just 3
points behind the Sharks in the Western Conference standings, the Minnesota
Wild tried to match the 4-3 win they enjoyed over San Jose back on October 30th
in Minneapolis. The Sharks had other ideas, as they skated to their 5th
straight win on home ice by dispatching Minnesota 2-1.
With 4 games in
hand no San Jose, the Sharks had to win this game in regulation to help defend
their slim lead over the Wild. They did that by scoring first, then responding
to a big 3rd period goal by Minnesota.
Countering when the opposition
ties the game in the 3rd period has been an issue for the Sharks early in the
season, so it was imperative for them to stand up to Minnesota.
Nino
Niederreitter setup a Sharks power play by cross checking Justin Braun at 7:29
of the opening period. The Sharks special teams unit did little to take
advantage of the man-advantage. The Wild had the best scoring chance during the
two minute span, when Kyle Brodziak pumped a shot off the crossbar.
The Wild had their own chance on the power play late in the period after
Brenden Dillon was sent off for cross checking Niederreitter. The Wild entered
the game 1-for-42 on the power play while on the road. That was evident by the
discombobulated attack the Wild threw out on the ice. They mustered zero shots
on the chance.
With goals at a premium, the Sharks were playing with
fire, giving up a series of odd-man rushes to Minnesota. The Wild had a golden
opportunity to score 8 minutes into the 2nd period, but Logan Couture hustled
back to interfere with a solid back-check to deny Zach Parise from depositing a
puck into a wide open net.
San Jose finally found a crack in the Wild
defense after Nate Prosser was sent off for interference on Tommy Wingels at
13:56 of the period. Brent Burns cranked a shot on the ensuing power play from
the left point that slipped past Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The shot
appeared to hit Keumper's pad and slip between the netminder's glove hand after
he dropped to butterfly his pads.
With the secondary assist on the
Burns goal, Joe Thornton tied Jean Beliveau for 39th on the all-time scoring
list with 1,219 points. The Canadiens legend passed away last week and was laid
to rest in a casket that was adorned with a Canadiens flag during funeral
services.
After scoring a franchise record 4 goals in the 3rd period
to come from behind against the New York Islanders, the Wild were poised to
make a run against the Sharks lone goal lead. They took the first step 63
seconds into the final frame when Christian Folin scored his 1st NHL goal off a
Sharks turnover. Tommy Wingels tried existing the defensive zone with a
diagonal pass from the left corner that eluded Patrick Marleau. Folin stepped
up from his position at the point and rifled a shot that slipped past Alex
Stalock and the right post.
The Sharks did what the Islanders could not in
responding quickly. Thornton moved passed Beliveau with a pass from the right
wing boards that found Joe Pavelski on the off wing for a one time chance that
zipped past Kuemper 45 seconds after Folin's goal. Pavelski uncorked his shot
with a knee on the ice for his 15th tally of the season.
Rookie Melker
Karlsson put the Sharks in a precarious position by hooking Ryan Suter at 4:31
to put the Wild on the power play. The saving grace was a determined penalty
kill and the league's worst road power play which failed again to generate any
shots on goal.
Kyle Brodziak reciprocated by taking a holding penalty
on former Wild forward James Sheppard, but San Jose couldn't capitalize.
San Jose was fighting to hold their lead, but things were complicated
when Barclay Goodrow broke his stick with 3 minutes left in regulation. Stalock
made a huge save as the Wild worked the puck to the front of the net, and
pumped a shot from point blank range.
The final 2 minutes of the game
was nail biting time, after Minnesota pulled Kuemper for the extra attacker.
The puck rarely exited the Sharks zone during that span, but the Sharks held
the lead. Stalock backed up his win over Edmonton on Tuesday night by denying
the Wild.
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think of this story? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| MIN |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| SJ |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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| 2nd period - 1, SJ,
Burns 9 (Braun, Thornton), 14:51, (pp). |
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| 3rd period - 2, MIN,
Folin 1 (unassisted), 1:03. 3, SJ, Pavelski 15 (Thornton, Dillon), 1:48. |
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| 1st period -
Niederreitter, MIN (cross checking), 7:29; Dillon, SJ (cross checking),
14:54. |
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| 2nd period - Carter, MIN
(roughing), 6:05; McGinn, SJ (roughing), 6:05; Prosser, MIN (interference),
13:56. |
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| 3rd period - Karlsson,
SJ (hooking), 4:31; Brodziak, MIN (holding), 7:23. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| MIN - Kuemper |
30 |
28 |
| SJ - Stalock |
19 |
18 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| MIN |
5 |
9 |
5 |
19 |
| SJ |
9 |
14 |
7 |
30 |
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| Referees: Dwyer,
Walsh. Linesmen: Wheler, Lazarowich. |
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