Author: Matthew Harrington

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: St Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott juggles with the puck as Elliott and the Blues throw a 1-0 shutout against the Sharks on Tuesday night

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks had a golden opportunity to make the Pacific Division race a much tighter affair with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks both losing earlier in the night. Instead, team Teal missed out on a chance to pull within three points of the division-leading Kings with 9 games left to play by falling to the St. Louis Blues 1-0 at the SAP Center Tuesday night.

“It’s a missed opportunity,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “There’s not many games left to pick up a lot of points. You’ve got to make a chance like that count.”

Blues netminder Brian Elliot made 37 saves for his second shutout in as many games after a return from injury, while rookie sensation Robby Fabbri scored his 17^th goal of the season halfway through the 3^rd period to keep the Sharks playoff aspirations in a holding pattern. Had either San Jose won or the Arizona Coyotes lost Tuesday the Sharks would clinch a playoff berth.

“All these games are important,” said Sharks goalie Martin Jones. “This was disappointing to not get some points. But we have plenty of games left and it’s time to make the most of them.”

The Sharks (41-26-6) nearly tied the game late in the 3^rd after a pair of Blues gaffes in the final 3 minutes of regulation. First Carl Gunnarsson went to the box with 2:45 left for firing the puck over the glass then David Backes joined him 1:22 later after cross-checking Joe Pavelski in the face during a netfront scrum. Despite 38 seconds of 6-on-4 hockey (Sharks coach Peter DeBoer opted to pull Jones for the extra attacker) the Sharks couldn’t crack Elliot and the St. Louis defense.

“You always want urgency,” said Pavelski. “5-on-3, it’s a chance to create a really good shot. We didn’t get as many of those as we could have. We didn’t find that way.”

The two teams played a tight, checking contest for the full 60 minutes. It became evident early in the 3^rd that the first team to score would be the winner. Through the first two periods, St. Louis (43-22-9) fired just 15 shots on Jones. In total, Jones made 23 saves.

“The way we’ve been playing lately we’ve had stretches like that,” said Jones of the spurts of not seeing too much rubber thanks to his stout defense corps. “That’s a good thing. I just try to stay focused.

The only shot Jones couldn’t save came from Fabbri on a two-on-one rush. After defenseman Dylan DeMelo and Pavelski failed to stop the rush, defenseman Justin Braun was left to handle a two-on-one. Braun took away the pass to a streaking winger, but Jones was left to face down the lethal Fabbri. With Fabbri coming down the wing to Jones’ left, the youngster ripped a shot that beat Jones for the game’s only goal 9:55 into the period.

“It didn’t feel like they had a whole lot all night,” said Pavelski of St. Louis’ offense. “Me and (DeMelo) got caught up with some miscommunication there and they had a chance and found a way to sink one in.”

The Sharks hope to avoid another rookie sensation spoiling their potential playoff lockup. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers come to SAP Thursday night for the 4^th game of a season-high 6 game homestand. San Jose is currently 2-1 during that stretch.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo credit: nj.com/devils–New Jersey goaltender Keith Kinkaid who threw a shutout at the San Jose Sharks Thursday night stops one of 30 shots

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Despite nearly a 2-to-1 shooting advantage, the San Jose Sharks were blanked by the New Jersey Devils 3-0 at home Thursday night. Sharks goalie Martin Jones made 13 saves on 15 shots, but the Sharks (37-24-6) dropped their 15^th game of the season at the SAP Center on a goal from Devante Smith-Pelly and two from Travis Zajac. Keith Kinkaid picked up his second career shutout starting in place of injured Devils netminder Corey Schneider.

“We had not one or two, but a bunch of guys off,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “That’s real. (The Devils) were a hungry team. They were rested, sitting here waiting. They were desperate, they were hungry. They played a hard, heavy game.”

The Sharks went on the power play three times, but failed to beat the suffocating New Jersey defensive system. San Jose threw the puck on the 26-year-old Kinkaid 30 times, including 7 chances on the power play but failed to beat the third-year goalie.

“We were just looking for that one goal on the power,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “Or 5-on-5 where it was going to crack them. But we could have been better. We could have had more jump and been harder in more areas.”

Despite a limited offensive output, the Devils (32-29-7) were able to beat Jones 3:14 into the 2^nd after a Smith-Pelly shot from the wing found its way through a crowd into the back of the net. Stephen Gionta and Mike Sislo assisted on Smith-Pelly’s 9^th of the season.

“A team like that, they get the first one it just makes it harder to play against them,” said defenseman Paul Martin on New Jersey’s defensive system. “They’re good at shutting down plays, not giving up too much. For us to have the start we had was not what we wanted.”

Zajac scored his first of the game on a pass attempt from behind the net that hit defenseman Paul Martin’s leg. During the ensuing scramble, Jones tried to pull the loose puck off the goal line before it crossed over for a score. After video review, the officials ruled the puck did cross the goal line for a 2-0 New Jersey lead 1:35 into the 3^rd period.

“I didn’t even see it or watch it afterwards,” said Martin. “I know it hit me then crossed the line before Jones grabbed it. It’s one of those things where we need to be more clean in our own end. This was a sloppy game in general for us from the start.”

It was the first shot on goal in over 18 minutes for the Devils.

“It’s a stat you don’t recognize,” said Pavelski. “They’re not getting a whole lot out there. A couple looks they did find ways to get them in. That’s all that really mattered.”

Zajac would score his 2^nd goal of the game (and 12^th of the season) with Jones pulled and 53 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Sharks couldn’t continue the momentum they built from a two-game sweep of the two Alberta teams after beating the Calgary Flames Monday night and the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday.

“It’s always tough, the first game at home after a road trip,” said Martin. “No Matter how long it is. We’ve been successful on the road. It takes a lot out of us winning those games and finding ways to win on the road. I think we take it for granted. It’s expected that the same thing is going to happen at home without the same effort or intensity.”

While none of the players could answer definitely why the team has underperformed at home this year, most responses came down to the quality of the ice. The SAP Center now hosts the Sharks AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, which has led to a degradation in the ice quality noted by visiting teams and now the tenants of SAP.

“The ice was not the way we’d like it to be,” said Martin. “But everyone is playing on the same ice. We just need to find a way.”

When asked if the team would adjust its pass-heavy, speed-based offense, coach had a different solution.

“Maybe fix the ice, how about that?” joked DeBoer.

The ice won’t be fixed, if ever, before the Sharks next home game Saturday. San Jose takes on the Eastern Conference leaders the Washington Capitals before facing the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins Tuesday night at home. While there won’t be changes to the ice, the Sharks will hope for changes to their game.

“I’m sure there’s a few things we can fix up and be better at,” said Pavelski. “We’ve got a big game ahead of us Saturday.”

 

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo credit: San Jose Mercury News San Jose goaltender Martin Jones

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Forgive the Canadian press for blowing the San Jose Sharks February 27^th acquisition of James Reimer from the Toronto Maple Leafs as a sign that the team wanted to run with a 1A-1B goalie system. They after all witnessed him single-handedly force a 7-game series against the Boston Bruins in 2013 and push Leafs trade acquisition Jonathan Bernier for the starter’s role in the 3 seasons they both have worn the leafed crest. Current Sharks netminder Martin Jones has made one thing perfectly clear with his recent play; the San Jose net belongs to him and him alone.

Jones turned aside 28 of 30 Vancouver shots in a 3-2 victory Thursday night over the Vancouver Canucks, his second win just outside of his hometown of North Vancouver in five days. The 26 –year-old netminder was especially terrific in the final two minutes of the game with the Canucks net vacant and an extra attacker on the ice.

“He was outstanding tonight,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “He made 2 or 3 huge saves in the 3rd period. That’s game changing. He’s given us that kind of goaltending most of the year.”

Since acquiring Reimer, all the 6-foot-4 keeper has done is go 3-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. Jones doesn’t believe recent events have any correlation with his stellar surge between the pipes.

“I play to win every game,” said Jones when asked if Reimer’s addition gave him any added incentive. “I play the same way every game”

Jones has now played in the last 10 Sharks games, going 7-2-1 during that stretch while allowing just 21 goals. Twice during that run he has played in consecutive nights, allowing 6 goals total in the second half of those back-to-back match-ups. This season, he has appeared in consecutive games 5 times, with the Sharks going 2-3 as a team in those contests. The addition of Reimer gives the Sharks the opportunity to rest Jones, who has appeared in more games this season (54) than he has in his first two seasons in the league combined (34).

“It’s not tough enough,” said DeBoer when asked how hard it will be to sit Jones for the new goalie in town. “I know we can’t wear this guy out. He’s played a lot of hockey for us this year.”

While the sudden increase in workload could make a keeper weary, Jones sees it as an advantage.

“I feel good,” said Jones after the Sharks win Thursday. “Any time you play lots of games, you get a better feel for the game.”

When the deal was completed and Reimer and Jeremy Morin came to San Jose for Ben Smith, backup goalie Alex Stalock and a conditional draft pick, the Sharks were looking forward to hockey yet to be played. They recognized the uncertainty of how Jones would hold up for a postseason run amidst a career-high workload. The Sharks are battling for the Pacific Division’s 2^nd place playoff spot and were just 4 points back of the Los Angeles Kings for the division lead entering play Thursday. Reimer and his 2.49 goals against average gives the Sharks the type of insurance the team didn’t feel they had with Stalock (3-5, 2.98 GAA this season).

“Everything we do now is to prepare for the playoffs the best we can,” said Jones. “We want to make sure our game is in good shape coming down the stretch here. We want to clinch that playoff spot. Everything we do now is preparing for the end of the season and getting ready for the playoffs.”

If (or more likely when) San Jose does make the playoffs, game 1 will be the first postseason start for Jones. Simply getting the Sharks to that point after missing out last season will be both a justification for the offseason deal that brought him over from Boston Bruins and the deadline deal that nabbed the Sharks Reimer. One thing is for certain, Jones will be the one manning the crease and he’ll be on the ice looking to win.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington and Joe Lami

AP photo: Lineman Brad Lazaowich left collides with the Vancouver Canucks Dan Hamhuis (2) as Linden Vey (7) digs for the puck against the San Jose Sharks Chris Tierney (50) and Roman Polak (56) Sunday in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia —  The San Jose Sharks offense ran into some trouble at crossing the border, but cleared customs with just enough time to pull off the comeback victory 4-1 against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena Sunday.

Joe Pavelski scored his first goal in six games to tie the game with just over 15 minutes left in regulation to tie the game, then Tomas Hertl tipped in the game-winner a handful of seconds later. Patrick Marleau netted a 5-on-3 goal late in the 3^rd and Justin Braun scored an empty-netter to ice the contest and set the tone with San Jose playing two of the next three games against Vancouver (24-25-12).

Braun’s defensive partner Marc-Eduoard Vlasic set a new career-high season points total with 37 after picking up a pair of assists.

“Things are going well,” said Vlasic. “When it goes well as a team, it goes well individually. When you’re playing well with your partner as well creating offense, good things happen.

After 40 minutes of play, the Sharks (33-22-6) were facing what appeared to be an insurmountable challenge. They had fallen behind 1-0 in the 2^nd period and mustered only 4 shots on Canucks goalie Ryan Miller in the period for a game total of 14. A determined effort by Joe Pavelski 4:21 into the third sparked a San Jose outburst.

“We hadn’t really played a good game up to that point,” said Pavelski. “Jones gave us a chance.”

Vlasic, looking to get off the ice for fresh legs, dumped a backhand into the Canucks zone on what looked like a harmless dump-and-change. Pavelski took advantage of a slouching Vancouver defense to pry the puck loose as it rattled along the boards behind the net and past the faceoff dot. From there, the Sharks captain peeled off the half-wall and ripped a back-hander past Miller to tie the game 4:21 into the 3rd.

“Through the forecheck,” said Pavelski. “That’s where we have to score goals. A lot of goals come from the forecheck when we get up and make the D make a play. Hopefully get there face up against the glass.”

The rest of the team followed the captain’s example and played a fired-up final fifteen minutes starting first with Pavelski’s linemate Hertl. The Czech winger drove to the net, tipping a Justin Braun point shot past Miller for his 15^th strike of the season 2:28 later.

“When you play on the inside,” said Vlasic. “When you go to the net, normally you create scrums. Penalties happen when you play inside. Good things happen, usually a goal or a penalty.”

San Jose failed to convert on the first two power plays of the night, but converted on a golden opportunity after Vancouver’s Markus Granlund and Dan Hamhuis took slashing minors 27 seconds apart with just under 7 minutes to play. On the two-man advantage Patrick Marleau took a Joe Thornton pass in the slot and ripped it past Miller for his 18^th of the season with 5:51 to go to make it 3-1. Pavelski also assisted on the power play strike.

“The big guys took over in the 3^rd,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “Pavelski, Thornton, Marleau, Couture, those guys found a way to crank it up in the 3^rd and win us the game.”

While the Sharks scored most, the Canucks jumped on the board first on Daniel Sedin’s 23^rd goal of the season 3:03 into the 2^nd period. The Swedish winger crashed the San Jose net, jamming a Martin Jones rebound through the San Jose keeper’s five-hole for a 1-0 lead.

The North Vancouver, B.C. native Jones was stellar aside from the lone goal, turning aside 23 of 24 shots in his first contest at the NHL level in his home town.

“Today was more important than me coming home,” said Jones. “It was a big game for us with a team that’s chasing us. We had a good opportunity to put them at a pretty good distance.”

10 points separated San Jose from Vancouver for third place in the Pacific Division entering play Sunday afternoon. With San Jose facing Vancouver three times in the span of a week, it was important for the Sharks to set the tone in the first meeting.

“We didn’t want to give them any life in the standings,” said DeBoer. “We’re playing them another 4 times after this. It was an important 20 minutes for us.”

While the Sharks will look to add another strong 60 minutes against Vancouver Thursday, they’ll have to avoid focusing to match on the rematch. They head back to San Jose to face the Montreal Canadiens at the SAP center.

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo Calgary’s defenceman Mark Giordano does the victory lap at the Flames bench after scoring a first period goal against the Sharks on Thursday night

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The question for the San Jose Sharks Thursday night was which team would show up for their home tilt with the Calgary Flames. Would it be the meek outfit that suffered a 6-2 knockout against the Predators in Nashville Saturday night taking the ice? Or could Team Teal replicate the World-beater performance that resulted in a 2-0 shutout of the vaunted Blackhawks offense at the United Center Tuesday night?

The answer is both.

The Sharks stumbled in the 1st period, allowing 4 goals to the visiting team while netting only one of their own, but scored 4 unanswered goals to take a 5-4 lead. Calgary forced overtime then rode a surprise appearance by Sharks nemesis Jonas Hiller to a 6-5 shootout victory. Sharks center Logan Couture picked up points (1g, 3a).

“I felt good,” said Couture who has missed significant time this year dealing with a leg injury and complications. “It was one of those games where the puck followed me around. It would have felt a lot nicer if we got the win.”

Wayne Gretzky said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Thursday the Flames (25-25-3) missed on just under half of the first period shots they took against Sharks netminder Alex Stalock. Sam Bennett, Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund all scored in the opening stanza on 4 of Calgary’s total 9 shots.

The Sharks mostly rode the man-advantage to make up the difference over the final two-thirds of play, scoring 3 power play goals over 7 opportunities down the stretch.

“We had a feeling going out that something was going to get done,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “We battled all the way back. It was good to see some character.

Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau opened the scoring barrage in the 2^nd period with a Flame stewing in the box. Couture potted his 5^th of the season 48 seconds into the 2^nd off a cross-ice feed from Brent Burns. Patrick Marleau tipped in a Joe Thornton shot-pass 11:17 into the frame for his 17^th of the year. In total, the Sharks outshot the Flames 11-4 in a period in which Calgary picked up 6 penalty minutes.

San Jose completed the comeback 2:46 into the final period of regulation after Joonas Donskoi beat Kari Ramo for his 9^th goal of the season. Just over 3 minutes later, Dylan DeMelo netted his 2^nd career NHL goal on one of San Jose’s 9 power plays of the night to give the Sharks their first lead at 5-4 with just under 15 minutes to play.

The visitors would not be denied though, with defenseman Kris Russell taking a backdoor pass from Sam Bennett to tally his 4^th of the year and knot the game 8:08 into the third. San Jose would have one last gasp in regulation.

With 3 minutes left Jonas Donskoi drove hard to the net, being tripped by Mark Giordano on the way in. Giordano collided with Ramo, forcing the starting netminder out of the game. During the same exchange, Sam Bennett elbowed Paul Martin, forcing Jonas Hiller to enter the game off the bench. Hiller dominated during the Sharks’ 5-on-3 power play, keeping the Flames in contention for two points.

“He played unbelievable,” said Couture of Hiller. “Kudos to him. He stepped in to a very difficult situation with the 5-on-3 and had some unbelievable saves. He basically saved them a couple points.”

“We thought we were going to get them,” added Pavelski. “When you get a 5-on-3 for two minutes. We just didn’t get things done. We felt we let one slip away.”

Hiller was equally as stout in the 3-on-3 overtime, flashing an athletic kick save amongst the 8 saves he made to force the game into a shootout. The Sharks also missed some opportunities by hitting a post and missing an open net when Hiller was pulled out of position.

“It’s tough,” said Couture. “I could have put the game away there. That one is going to keep me up tonight.”

 The red hot Couture beat Hiller, the only Shark to do so in the skills competition. Joe Colborne answered, then Hiller stoned Donskoi , Joe Pavelski and Marleau. Jiri Hudler slid the puck past Stalock to take the contest for the Flames.

The Sharks next take the SAP ice facing Pacific Division rivals the Arizona Coyotes. That contest will be Saturday evening.