By Matthew T.F. Harrington
AP photo: San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) in front of the net throws a shutout against the New Jersey Devils as the Devils Sergey Kalinin (51) and the Sharks Paul Martin tangle for the puck at SAP Center on Monday night
SAN JOSE, Calif. – After a six-game road trip, there’s no place like home for the undermanned San Jose Sharks. In their first game since a 3-3 road swing, the Sharks dominated the New Jersey Devils to the tune of a 4-0 win. Joe Thornton collected his 900th point as a Shark while Chris Tierney scored a short-handed goal. Martin Jones picked up his second shut-out of the season with 26 saves.
The Sharks jumped out to the early lead in surprising fashion 1:59 into play. Just 15 seconds earlier, Matt Nieto was sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference, but the shortage in man-power didn’t slow down San Jose. Chris Tierney plucked a puck from the slot and raced down the left side of the ice unabated. Once he reached the New Jersey faceoff dot, he ripped a shot over goalie Keith Kinkaid’s glove for his first goal of the season.
“That was a big start for us,” said Sharks coach Pete DeBoer. “We took a penalty. I thought we had good jump all night.”
Just under four minutes later a line born out of necessity struck for the Sharks second goal. With Tomas Hertl facing minor surgery on his balky knee, Patrick Marleau skated on the top line with the Joes, Pavelski and Thornton. Marleau scored the second goal of the game after taking his own rebound and batting it past Kinkaid for his fifth goal of the season. Pavelski and Paul Martin assisted on the goal.
“(Coach) Pete (DeBoer) put him with us in the third period against Arizona,” said Thornton of Marleau. “He looked so powerful. Tonight he was powerful again.”
“It’s good playing with those guys,” said Marleau. “One thing they do is they work hard. You have to pull your weight.”
With Hertl expected to miss a few weeks, the Sharks hope the trio of Pavelski, Thornton and Marleau will continue to produce.
“Usually when you win a couple games in a row, things stick,” said Thornton. “Hopefully we can get in a grove and Patty stays with us.”
Logan Couture helped push Joe Thornton to a milestone after beating Kinkaid 10:33 into the middle period. Thornton picked up the primary assist, his 11th of the season to push him to 900 in the teal of San Jose.
“I’ve been here a long time,” said Thornton. “I’ve played with some good players, that’s what it comes down to. I’ve been lucky to play with Jonathan Cheecho, Patrick Marleau, so many different guys, so many great players. Thank you to all those guys.”
The Sharks final goal of the game came courtesy of a misplay by Devils defender Kyle Quincy. Burns shot rattled around the Devils crease before Quincey inadvertently batted the puck into the
New Jersey net to trail 4-0 with 7:38 gone in the period. Burns was credited with his seventh goal of the year.
Two Sharks players took bumps in the contest but ultimately would return to the ice. Chris Tierney took a shot to the face in the third and Marc-Eduoard Vlasic was cross-checked into the boards. Both went down the tunnel for a period of time but saw ice time after their injuries.
The Sharks continue the four-game home stand by facing the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday before a pair of games at home Friday and Saturday night.
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