By Matthew T.F. Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Following his hat trick in the San Jose Barracuda’s 4-2 win over the Tucson Roadrunners Marcus Sorensen was nowhere to be found in the Sharks Ice locker room. When a teammate saw the throng of press awaking the Swedish forward, her quipped that Sorenson was already in the San Jose Sharks locker room. With a performance like Thursday night’s it’s only a matter of time.

“I think we really saw what he’s capable of tonight,” said Barracuda coach Roy Sommer.

While teammate Matt Willows scored the first goal of the contest, after that the game was all Sorensen. The free agent signee out of the Swedish Hockey League scored his first strike to give San Jose a 2-1, beating the Tucson netminder gloveside on a snipe 6:40 into the second period. 3:39 into the third period, Sorenson converted a pass from linemate Nikita Jevpalovs for a power play strike for a 3-1. The Roadrunners would add a goal midway through the third but Sorenson would take a Danny O’Reagan pass following a block for a shorthanded goal with 6:46 left in regulation for the trifecta.

“Every guy I played with today was really good,” said Sorenson. “That gave me confidence. I hope I gave them confidence.”

Not bad for a player who was just hours removed from being cut from his first National Hockey League team. Earlier in the morning, Sorenson was returned to the Barracuda from Sharks camp, a minor disappointment after fans expected the Champions Hockey League MVP would be a breakout star.

“When he came down I looked at him and said ‘How you doing,” recalls Sommer. “He said ‘I’m good, no problem’. He wasn’t one of those guys that you have to pull aside into your office and pump his tires up. He’s an older, mature guy. He’s won championships over there. He knows what’s going on.”

It’s an unfair expectation, but one that has become a welcome reality for Sharks fans. For the past two seasons, the parent club’s international scouting team has found impact player from overseas in Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi.

“He’s like a Karlsson or a Donskoi in that he just goes,” said Sommer. “I think he was trying to do too much, here he just went out and played.”

Fans expected Sorenson to compete a spot currently up for grabs between Barracuda teammates Barclay Goodrow, Nikolay Goldobin and Micheal Haley. It won’t be there spot for long if Sorenson continues to show the speed and knack for scoring he displayed Thursday night.

“He was the best player out there,” said Sommer after the game. “The big guys (Sharks executives) were out here watching tonight. That’s the best I’ve seen him play since he’s been here (in North America). He made plays. Up there (with the Sharks) he was trying to do too much.”

Another Barracuda who didn’t quite turn heads at Sharks camp also played a pivotal role Thursday. Mantas Armalis rebounded from a rough road game against the Colorado Avalanche to hold Tucson to two goals while showing good lateral movement. Armalis is still trying to get a feel for the smaller ice surface of North America and the extra effort goalies are called upon to perform with the closer corner boards.

“I’m not used to playing the puck,” said Armalis. “Goalies aren’t used as much. Probably because the corners are a bit farther away. That’s one adaptation.”

The Barracuda will continue the preseason with a Sunday afternoon contest at Sharks Ice. They’ll most likely be closer to full strength as training camp continues on and more regulars are inserted into the lineup.