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Kennedy and Marleau lead Sharks
in win over Leafs
San Jose snaps 3-game home losing
streak
It's been no secret that Patrick Marleau and Tyler
Kennedy have struggled this season. Providing little in terms of offense, both
players have been trying to snap out of a season long funk that has made this a
forgettable season. Kennedy's woes were exacerbated by an injury that sidelined
him for 14 games. So when both contributed to the Sharks 3-1 win over the
Toronto Maple Leafs by scoring goals, it was a nice change for once.
Kennedy struggles have stretched since the Sharks acquired him from the
Pittsburgh Penguins before the 2013-14 season. The forward has been a spark
plug since returning from his injury two games ago, but his goal on Thursday
night against the Maple Leafs was simply downright relieving.
The
Sharks opened the game a little shaky, allowing the Maple Leafs to build some
confidence. Toronto hadn't scored in more than 130 minutes entering the game
with San Jose, so that momentum was just what they were looking for, but
Kennedy threw a monkey wrench into any plans to jump on San Jose early.
Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi played a big part in that, stoning a
Toronto shot with a big kick save early, then cashing in on some puck luck when
a shot hit the left post, then bounced of his skate and skittered just wide of
the goal.
"I thought the last ten minutes of the first period was a
little too wide-open for our liking," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan.
"But the start was really good. I liked our transition game. We looked fast. We
went after a team that played the night before. We got the start we wanted. The
last ten minutes of the first got a little loose, but after that we settled
in."
San Jose was working the puck behind the Toronto net before
kicking it out to the high slot, where Tomas Hertl unloaded on a shot. The puck
hit David Clarkson in the leg or foot, hobbling the winger and essentially
creating a 5-on-4 situation. Brenden Dillon retrieved the puck near the left
point before spotting Kennedy parked outside the right post. The defenseman
sent a 200-foot bullet pass to Kennedy, who was left unattended. Reimer had to
commit to a shot, but Kennedy waited him out, opening a hole for the Shark
forward's 4th goal of the season.
"Our line is clicking a little bit
right now," said the Sharks forward. "I think we gave to focus on the little
things to be successful. And I think that's what we're doing right now. It's
just two games, and we have to keep moving on and get better."
Clarkson made it to the bench, but had to be helped to the locker room at the
next stoppage, which came 11 seconds after Kennedy's goal.
That
stoppage was created by Marleau's big contribution to the game. That being his
8th goal of the year. The snake-bitten forward took a drop pass at center ice
before racing up the right wing and flipping the puck on goal. That puck
slipped past Reimer, but Maple Leafs centerman Nazem Kadri reached behind
Reimer and tried to tuck the puck against his goaltender's right pad. Matt
Nieto raced in and tried to stab at the puck, but ended up hitting Reimer's pad
and subsequently forcing the puck over the goal line.
Kadri then swept the puck out of the net, which eluded
the on ice officials. While the Sharks were celebrating, referee Brad Watson
waved off the goal. The play went to video replay which confirmed the puck
clearly crossing the goal line. Since Nieto didn't actually touch the puck,
Marleau was credited with the tally.
The goal was Marleau's 445th
career tally, pushing him to 60th on the NHL's all-time goal scoring list.
The only mistake the Sharks made that cost them came with 8 minutes to
play in the period. Mike Santorelli circled back toward the net with the puck
after skating out of the left corner then fired a shot that sailed wide left.
The puck bounced off the end boards and rebounded to the right side of the net
where Roman Polak poked it home for his 5th goal of the season. Niemi was busy
focusing on Santorelli, and was late to cover the right side of the net.
San Jose went to work in the 2nd period, out-shooting Toronto 17-4. If
not for Reimer's solid netminding, the Sharks would have opened up a bigger
lead. The inability to add to their lead made the 3rd period more interesting.
The Maple Leafs had their chances, but the puck just didn't want to
cooperate. Toronto had to be pulling their hair out after they worked Niemi out
of his net with a flurry from the left side of the Sharks goal with 7 minutes
to play, and then pushed the puck toward the goal line, but Marc-Edouard's
skate was in the right place at the right time for San Jose.
After the
Sharks had worked the clock, the Maple Leafs were forced to pull Reimer. That
ended with Tye McGinn skating the puck up ice before sliding a pass to his
right where Jamie McGinn was there to end the game with an empty-net goal.
"The guys are a little frustrated"said Toronto head coach Peter
Horachek after his team finished their swing through California by going 0-3.
"They shoot from everywhere that's evident; early they were shooting from
outside the blue line, and they're a big team, they shoot from all sides. Maybe
it was the back to back (games) but our guys tried and we didn't get the
chances (for the puck) to go in. We just have to say 'listen we're in this game
for a reason; we need to have the mental fortitude to move forward you got to
deal with it. It's not easy but everyone's willing to move forward in the way
we want to."
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What did you
think of this story? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| TOR |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| SJ |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
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| 1st period - 1, SJ,
Kennedy 4 (DIllon, Braun), 8:55. 2, SJ, Marleau 8 (Nieto, Braun), 9:06. 3, TOR,
Polak 5 (Santorelli, Winnik), 11:57. |
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| 3rd period - 4, SJ,
Wingels 11 (McGinn, Sheppard), 19:15, (en). |
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| 1st period - Dillon, SJ
(tripping), 13:16; Dillono, SJ (holding), 16:32; Phaneuf, TOR (cross checking),
16:46. |
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| 2nd period - Polak, TOR
(delay of game), 10:11; Thornton, SJ (illegal check to head), 14:14. |
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| 3rd period - Winnik, TOR
(holding), 14:53. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| TOR - Reimer |
41 |
39 |
| SJ - Niemi |
25 |
24 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| TOR |
13 |
4 |
8 |
25 |
| SJ |
12 |
17 |
13 |
42 |
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| Referees: Watson,
Meier. Linesmen: Henderson, Cvik. |
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