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Sharks almost shutout Ducks in feisty one

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(Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Pearl Allison Lo

ANAHEIM– In a game that featured numerous fights, San Jose broke Anaheim’s seven-game win streak along with their four-game losing streak in a 4-1 win Sunday.

Sharks’ coach Todd McLellan remarked, “It was a big win for us…The fact it comes against a rival who’s probably the best team in the league right now, we’ll take that…I’m proud of the way the group responded. We didn’t have an easy day today.”

Fights and goals marked each period as the former escalated in the third period, with 24 penalties in the final stanza. Sharks’ goalie Antti Niemi, who stopped 33 shots, had a shutout until 14:53 of the third, when Anaheim had a power play.

San Jose’s Tommy Wingels said it was the “first time we’ve shown passion this year.” “It was a solid 60-minute effort. Everyone stood up for one another,” commented Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

It was the Ducks’ second loss of the season as the Sharks moved a game above .500. Four different players scored for San Jose, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau each had a pair of assists and Tomas Hertl had his first assist. The Sharks killed five of six power plays and scored two power play goals. Joe Pavelski said, “[Niemi] was great on the penalty kill early. That’s where we’ve struggled lately…That gave us confidence early.”

The game winner was Brent Burns’ first of the season and his second goal in as many games. Burns shot it from the point towards the line of defenders in front of goalie Frederik Andersen.  He was aided by Marleau at 8:25 of the first period.

Anaheim’s Corey Perry had a one-on-one opportunity but Niemi saved the puck.

Tim Jackman’s hooking penalty at 18:38 ended in a crash at the net and gave the Sharks their first power play. Pavelski redirected Joe Thornton’s shot from the right circle to give San Jose a 2-0 lead.

Two penalties were called for both teams 12 seconds apart in the second period. The Sharks’ Scott Hannan was called for high-sticking and the Ducks’ Sami Vatanen called for embellishment at 9:40, then San Jose’s Mirco Mueller and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Ducks’ coach Bruce Boudreau replied to when frustration set in, “We got wound up when we got the embellishment penalty. There were some things going on, but it was just two teams that competed hard against one another….We were frustrated. When you’re frustrated, stuff happens.”

Eleven seconds after the second penalty, Vlasic scored through the legs of Andersen, helped by Marleau and Couture.

At 15:23, San Jose was called for a bench minor, a faceoff violation.

Near 18:21, the Ducks’ Ryan Kesler narrowly missed with a diagonal shot right in between Niemi and the net.

The Sharks got another power play at 10:18 of the third period. They capitalized again at 11:40, when Wingels scored, assisted by Matt Nieto and Hertl.

The majority of the penalties were called at 13:56.

Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey spoiled the shutout when the man advantage was almost over, scoring top shelf, aided by Kesler and Cam Fowler at 14:53.

Game notes: San Jose’s Justin Braun took a puck to the mouth during the game and left the ice. The team will try to build on their win and put together a streak when facing the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday at 6pm.

Chivas finishes in 7th place in club finale

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Chivas finishes in 7th place in club finale

By Pearl Allison Lo

CARSON– Felix Borja scored the game winner as Chivas USA shut out their conference rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0, in the teams’ season finale, but perhaps club finale for Chivas, Sunday.

With both teams desperate for a win, the win clinched the season series for the Goats as they won with the lead before halftime for just the second time this season. It was a satisfying finish, especially if the team is to be sold.

San Jose finished with a club-record 15-game winless streak and just one win on the road as they ended the season in last place.

Chivas’ Erick Torres hit the far post a second time after defender Victor Bernardez lost him, and then eventually backed off so he wouldn’t foul Torres. Borja then cleaned up Torres’ rebound in the 33rd minute. Goalie Jon Busch was defending the near post, Busch visibly frustrated, among other, throughout the first half.

San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski had two opportunities, but neither showed on the stat sheet until he got the Quakes’ first shot and shot on goal during the 22nd minute.

In the 28th minute, Chivas’ Leandro Barrera, who was always around the net, got a free kick. Eric Avila’s shot went over the net.

The Goats had the majority of the opportunities, outshooting San Jose 9-3 in the first half. Torres had four shots and Borja had three shots. Chivas seemed like they had the majority of the possession but the Quakes did, though San Jose was only able to get one shot on goal.

Quakes’ Cordell Cato came in for Pablo Pintos in the second half.

The Quakes started with some early opportunities, Wondolowski with a header in the 48th minute and Yannick Djalo with a shot in the 49th minute.

Play mainly stayed on the offensive side for San Jose until the 62nd minute, where the Goats started to challenge.

Busch, who tied fellow goalkeeper Joe Cannon’s club record for single saves in a season during the first half, broke it during the second.

San Jose would have tied and maybe eventually have won the game, but a goal at the 68th minute was taken back due to a foul by Atiba Harris.

The Quakes led in opportunities in the second, with five shots to Chivas’ one. The Goats had more clearances than San Jose, 16-3.

Game notes: There wasn’t a red card this game, but the teams combined for 30 fouls. The supporter groups for Chivas, the Union Ultras and Black Army 1850 were on the field before the game, and stayed through the anthem as the teams joined them.  There were no changes to the Earthquakes starting lineup this game. There were three changes for the Goats, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Eric Avila and Oswaldo Minda for Eriq Zavaleta, who suffered a hamstring injury last game, Marvin Chavez, who was suspended last game and Matthew Dunn. On October 23, San Jose announced their 2014 Club Award Winners: Shea Salinas for Humanitarian, of the Year, Busch for Defensive MVP and Wondolowski for Offensive MVP. The Quakes will start 2015 in their brand new stadium.

Sharks hold on to lead

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Photo credit: Jim McIsaac

By Pearl Allison Lo

In the New Jersey Devils’ home opener, San Jose held off a third period comeback to win, 4-2 Saturday.

The deciding goal was Patrick Marleau’s fourth of the season, 1:36 into the third period, which capped the Sharks’ lead at 3-0. It started when the puck went up into the air after a Devils’ pass and Justin Braun nabbed it. Braun then passed it to Logan Couture, who passed it to Marleau on a 3-on-2. Marleau slyly looked away from the goal as if he was going to pass again, as he scored a no-look goal, surprising even the announcers.

San Jose’s first two goals came via power play at nearly identical times in the first two periods.

The 1-0 goal started with Joe Thornton behind the net, who passed to the left to Couture, who then passed to Brent Burns. Burns passed the puck back to Couture, who shot and Joe Pavelski scored at 17:53 off Couture’s rebound. It was Burns’ sixth assist.

Couture’s first goal of the season started with Burns stopping Stephen Gionta from clearing the puck. The puck then went down and up the ice from Burns to Thornton to Marleau, back to Thornton then Burns. Burns then made a pass across the ice to Pavelski, who passed the puck down to Marleau who was backwards and parallel to goalie Cory Schneider. Marleau finally passed the puck ahead to Couture in the slot, as Couture slid the puck past the sticks of two defenders at 17:52.

Antti Niemi’s shutout ended when on a 3-on-2, Jaromir Jagr passed behind his teammate to Mike Cammalleri, who one-timed his shot. It was 8:00 of the third period and Andy Greene aided on the play too. It was Cammalleri’s fifth goal.

New Jersey made it the threatening score of 3-2 at 12:10 on another 3-on-2. Initially credited to former Shark Ryane Clowe, the goal was later changed to Adam Henrique. Clowe and Michael Ryder were in front of the net, but the puck seemed to hit the Sharks’ Matt Irwin’s skate as well. Ryder and Jon Merrill got the help points.

San Jose shifted momentum back in their favor for good when a Devils’ pass went off Ryder’s skate. Thornton corralled the deflection, passed it to Pavelski as Schneider reached the bench, received the pass back and shot into the empty net with a diving defender in front of him.

Game notes:  Thornton now has 1,200 career points. The Sharks’ Tommy Wingels was tripped heading to the goal and had a penalty shot. Teammate Adam Burish had a shorthanded opportunity during a Scott Hannan penalty, but was denied. Friday, San Jose announced that James Sheppard was sent to Worcester for conditioning and the Allen Americans would be the Sharks’ ECHL affiliate. Saturday morning, San Jose announced that Mike Brown was placed on injured reserve and Eriah Hayes was recalled from Worcester. The Sharks will now travel across state lines to face the New York Rangers Sunday at 2p.

Islanders remain undefeated

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Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images
Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images

By Pearl Allison Lo

Either the San Jose Sharks’ or New York’s unbeaten streak had to give, and it was the Sharks’, as they were on the losing end of the shootout Thursday, 4-3.

After winning by shootout Tuesday, this time San Jose was the one who was behind in the third to tie the game and go beyond regulation.

The Sharks were outhit 34-20 and outshot 45-23, 14-3 in the first period.

Neither team scored in the first period.

San Jose’s Brent Burns scored the game’s first goal at 1:39 of the second period on his second attempt at net. His first attempt hit John Tavares, knocking Tavares down. Burns’ second attempt was almost identical to the first, minus Tavares, as Tomas Hertl aided with a block. Joe Thornton and Mirco Mueller got credit for the assists.

The Islanders’ Nick Leddy tied the game with a bunch of Sharks in front at 4:05. He was helped by Tavares and Kyle Okposo.

Patrick Marleau put San Jose back up, seven seconds into their only power play of the game. The shot looked like Burns’ as goalie Jaroslav Halak may have been blocked by the Sharks’ Logan Couture. Marleau was assisted by Burns and Joe Thornton, who each got their fifth assists.

In the third period, New York scored on the power play also, retying the game. Frans Nielsen made a no-look pass to Okposo in the slot, who shot the puck through goalie Alex Stalock’s legs. Tavares had his seventh assist on the play.

Josh Bailey gave the Islanders their first lead at 8:38. His first shot was similar to Burns’ from the top of the faceoff circle on Stalock’s right. The second came by way of Cal Clutterbuck’s work along the boards as he shot the puck off the goalpost to Stalock’s left. Nick Leddy got his first assist.

Tomas Hertl scored San Jose’s last goal on a mini breakaway, after his defender slipped. Hertl hit open space at 11:16.

The shootout took five rounds this time. Couture scored in Round 1, Okposo in Round 3 and Tavares had the game winner.

Game notes: The Sharks will face the New Jersey Devils Saturday at 4p.

 

 

Sharks prevail in shootout

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(Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Pearl Allison Lo

Both San Jose and the Washington Capitals went from shutouts in their previous game to two different type of shootouts as Joe Pavelski scored the game winner during one-on-one time in a 6-5 shootout Tuesday.

Each regulation period saw at least three goals

The Sharks looked ready to cruise from the start, replicating their 3-0 win against Winnipeg in just the first period.

Matt Irwin started it off with two straight goals in his first game of the season. Joe Thornton won the faceoff as the puck went back to Irwin at the blue line. Through traffic, Irwin scored at 1:23. The second goal started on the power play with a pass Matt Nieto received from Jason Demers. Nieto shot it up front to Tommy Wingels, who tried to hack the puck past goalie Braden Holtby. Meanwhile, Irwin snuck past two preoccupied defenders and corralled the puck after it got loose at 4:36, two seconds before the man advantage expired.

In his first game with San Jose, John Scott intercepted a pass and hit the net top shelf to make it 3-0 at 9:34. He was aided by Adam Burish and Brent Burns earned his fourth assist.

The Capitals outshot the Sharks 15 to 7 in the second period.

Washington started their scoring nine seconds into the power play. In San Jose’s end, they won the faceoff and seemingly weaved a spell, passing the puck around the area until Alex Ovechkin found Marcus Johansson with open net space in front. John Carlson had the second assist.

San Jose went back up by three with a 2-on-1 and a little help from the Capitals’ Eric Fehr. Carlson slipped before Pavelski fired, new goalie Justin Peters saved the puck and as Fehr tried to get back, the puck went in off Fehr’s skate. Thornton and Justin Braun helped out.

It was then all Washington the rest of the period, as they chipped at the Sharks’ lead.

Mike Green scored from distance at 6:35 to make it 4-2. He was helped by Liam O’Brien and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Captain Ovechkin made it 4-3 at 7:09, assisted by Nicklas Backstrom and Fehr.

1:37 into the third period, San Jose got a goal back. Wingels went off to the side after getting the rebound from his shot up front. Along with Chris Tierney and Tye McGinn, the three all had points for the second time in three games.

On the power play, after missing a shot, Ovechkin got the puck again eventually and made his shot count at 14:09. It was his second goal and fourth overall as linemates Nicklas Backstrom and Carlson got their fourth assists too.

The Capitals got the tie at 15:25 when Troy Brouwer slipped past Irwin, who fell.

Overtime only saw one shot by Washington.

Pavelski scored in the second round of the shootout.

Game notes: Holtby gave up four goals on seven shots. The New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders are the only other 3-0 teams so far. The Sharks play New York Thursday at 4p.

Sharks blank defending Stanley Cup champions

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Photo credit: MARK J. TERRILL — AP Photo

By Pearl Allison Lo

LOS ANGELES– The Los Angeles Kings started on top of with the pre-game banner ceremonies but by the end, suffered a 4-0 drubbing by San Jose Wednesday in the teams’ season opener.

The Shark’s Antti Niemi stopped 34 shots, Tommy Wingels scored two goals, including the game winner and Brent Burns had two assists. In response to a question about it being a big game, Wingels said, “It absolutely was, it has been a long summer thinking about this game, when the schedule came out and this was our first game the media loved it, the fans loved it, but us players loved it too. Not a better way for us to start the season.”

San Jose coach Todd McLellan remarked, “They earned the right to have that pre-game ceremony and they obviously enjoyed it and the fans were rewarded for it. That’s why they played for the Stanley Cup at the end of the year so once that was over, the game started. The rivalry is always going to be there and it was there again tonight.”

Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick said regarding the ceremony, “You’re just kind of tired of it. You just want to play hockey.”

The first altercation between the teams came at the end of the Kings’ power play with an almost goal near the edge of the net at about 5:18.

When the Sharks got to the other end, San Jose’s Jason Demers passed it from the top of the circle. Tye McGinn then passed to Wingels from alongside the boards, as Wingels scored an almost parallel goal from the red line at 5:43, giving San Jose a 1-0 lead. It was McGinn’s first assist in his first game as a Shark. .

The crowd wanted a call during the Sharks’ first power play when players ended in the net, including Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick.

Early in the second period, the crowd thought they had a goal when Jeff Carter had a wraparound attempt, but Niemi smothered the puck.

San Jose made it 2-0 on a power play goal when Kyle Clifford was called for tripping. The Kings tried to clear the puck, but it went to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Vlasic then passed across the ice to Burns. As Burns shot, Patrick Marleau tipped in the puck at 3:20, with less than 30 seconds left in the power play.

The Sharks cleared the puck three times during their second penalty kill of the period. Los Angeles’ Marian Gaborik had a one-on-one opportunity, but Niemi saved the attempt.

Wingels got his second goal of the night and Burns got his second assist as Burns fed the puck to Wingels. With Brayden McNabb and Drew Doughty chasing him, Wingels got on a breakaway as he went right left and right to put the puck past Quick’s right side at 15:50.

14 seconds later, Marleau was battling for the puck against the boards and moved it out of the way. San Jose’s Matt Nieto slid in to grab the loose puck with Quick on the other side, and before Quick could get back, Nieto scored into the empty net.

The third period brought in new Kings’ goalie Martin Jones. He only faced three shots as Los Angeles had 10 shots in the period. Coach Darryl Sutter commented, “I didn’t pull Quick because of his performance. Like I said, I don’t like pulling goalies the first game of the year or ever, but at that point in the game it’s no Jonathan’s deal, it’s Jonesy’s (Martin Jones) deal.”

The Sharks killed off a 5-on-3 at 18:53, which occurred because of boarding and tripping calls.

Game notes: The game marked the NHL debuts for San Jose’s Chris Tierney and Mirco Mueller. Tierney finished +2 with three shots and a blocked shot and Mueller finished +1 with one shot and three blocked shots. Los Angeles’ Jake Muzzin, who was questionable before the game, did not play. The Sharks’ Joe Pavelski led all with seven shots, the Kings’ Alec Martinez led all with five blocked shots and Doughty was on the ice the longest, for 27:28. San Jose captaincy moved in the direction of closure with Vlasic, Pavelski, Marleau and Joe Thornton being named associate captains. Vlasic’s role will be intermittent while the rest will be the main associate captains. The Sharks will host the Winnipeg Jets in their season opener Saturday at 7pm.

Sharks lose in sudden death

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Photo credit: CHRISTINE COTTER — AP Photo

By Pearl Allison Lo

ANAHEIM– San Jose’s 1-0 lead from the first period broke at the very end, as the Anaheim Ducks scored the tying goal with less than a minute in the third to eventually win 2-1 Saturday.

Both teams had at least one power play in each period, including overtime, but the last power play in the game marked the only power play goal. The Sharks’ Antti Niemi had just avoided a shot earlier, but then Corey Perry took aim, with three San Jose players between him and Niemi, as the puck hit the crossbar at 3:37. That was Perry’s seventh shot of the night.

The preseason finale certainly had its share of fighting, especially in the second. The Sharks’ Joe Pavelski responded, “well i think it’s last preseason game, so, whatever you got to do to get ready for regular season. I  think you’re going to try to at least set a certain standard tonight, you see the lineups are close, as soon as you get a lot of good players, you start competing, a power play here, a power play there, you want to score a goal…it’s just built up.”

In the first, the Ducks’ Matt Beleskey hit Adam Burish near the net against the boards and then Burish fell backwards. The Sharks’ Mike Brown came in with a hit of his own in retaliation and Anaheim got their first power play. Matt Nieto had a solo opportunity shorthanded but his shot hit one of the Ducks’ stick.

The Ducks seemed to dominate, but San Jose was the one to get the all-important goal. At 13:58, Tomas Hertl got his first of the preseason. It started with the faceoff. The puck then got to the net from a shot from the blue line, bounced off the end boards and to an open Hertl. Hertl was helped by Pavelski and Scott Hannan.

There were five power plays during the period, with two overlapping. The last one came with 12.4 seconds left.

In the second, the Sharks had  more penalties than shots as there were five penalties per team.

Two penalties overlapped again as with just under a minute left in Anaheim Tim Jackman’s penalty, San Jose’s Jason Demers was called for interference.

Beleskey hit Braun then Hannan and Mike Brown went 2-on-1 on Jackman. Hannan was called for roughing and Brown and Jackman got unsportsmanlike conduct at 8:42.

Less than two minutes later, Demers hit Beleskey, Beleskey later responding by slashing, resulting in Demers going down, Demers called for embellishment, and then Beleskey also called for roughing as Beleskey hit Demers when he came back up from the ice.

At 13:04, Brown and Bryan Allen both got 10-minute misconducts.

Perry got called for cross-checking at 16:43.

The number of game shots ramped up in the third, with San Jose getting 11 and the Ducks 14.

After extended jostling along the boards where no one could get the puck out of the boards, Francois Beauchemin had a point blank shot which Niemi nabbed.

Patrick Maroon also had a one-on-one opportunity which Niemi gloved as well. Niemi commented, “they were coming hard, the last four five minutes.”

Anaheim took advantage of three failed clearances by the Sharks before the tying goal. Ryan Kesler was aided by Perry and Sami Vatanen.

Game notes: San Jose’s Brent Burns led all with 24:52 ice time, teammates Tommy Wingels and Logan Couture had four shots apiece, Kesler led with five hits, the Ducks’ Ben Lovejoy led with four blocked shots and Kesler won 85% of his 20 faceoffs. Attendance at the Honda Center was 13,682. Sharks will open the regular season against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday at Staples Center at 7pm.

Quakes never said die

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Photo: Major League Soccer @MLS Twitter

By Pearl Allison Lo

Although San Jose put forth tons of energy in the first half and fell behind in the 84th minute, they exemplified goonie spirit with seconds, as they escaped a loss to the Colorado Rapids with a 1-1 draw Saturday.

For the fourth time in last seven matches, the Quakes gave up a goal for points past the 70th minute, but unlike their last game against the Montreal Impact, San Jose avoided a loss.

With both teams vying for the final Western Conference playoff spot, it was a bitter result for the Rapids, who were the closer team. Colorado was also on their way to their first win over the Quakes since 2011 and first win at home since 2010. Colorado’s ten game winless streak now matches their 2007 club record.

Atiba Harris, who hit the game-tying goal, entered the game in the 70th minute. The four minutes of stoppage time were key. A long ball came in front of the net from midfield to Matias Perez Garcia. Perez Garcia passed the ball to Harris. After Harris got away from a shirt pull, Harris kicked a stunner into the net against his former team with just seconds left in the game. Harris was cut from the Rapids last year.

In the first half, shots on target were 3-1 for San Jose and Colorado goalie Joe Nasco had four saves to Jon Busch’s one, but fouls were 7-3 against the Quakes. Possession favored the Rapids 56.9% to 43.1%. No San Jose player had more than one shot.

Colorado’s Deshorn Brown led all with five shots. With a lot of space in front, in the 60th minute, he just missed a goal as he curled the ball just shy of the net.

In the 76th minute, Sanchez passed the ball to Brown. Against an approaching Busch, Brown scored, but as the confetti fell, Brown’s goal was taken away because he was offsides.

The Rapids’ Chris Klute couldn’t have chosen much of a better time for his first assist of the season. Dillon Serna got the ball from midfield and passed it to his right as Klute came up behind him. Shaun Francis tried to divert Klute’s shot, but the ball went to Colorado’s Gabriel Torres, who got past Victor Bernardez and put in the ball off Busch’s hands in the 84th minute. Torres led all with two shots on goal.

Both teams still look to end their drought (winless in last ten) and just maybe get into the postseason.

Game notes: Perez Garcia, who started, went down with cramps midfield after his assist. He also had four corner kicks and a shot on goal. The Rapids outshot San Jose 20-11 in the match. Last meeting, the Quakes pulled off 15 shots against Colorado. All three games between the teams this season have been draws. Rapids’  Dillon Powers returned to play after missing last game.  In the second half, shots on target were 3-2 for Colorado, Nasco had one save to Busch’s two, the number of fouls for each team were the exact opposite of the first half and San Jose cut down the Rapids’ possession time. The Quakes next host the Portland Timbers, for a later game than usual, 8pm on October 4.

A’s runs bring them to within one

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(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

By Pearl Allison Lo

Scott Kazmir broke a four-game losing streak to bring Oakland one game away from playoff security, as they topped the Texas Rangers 6-2 Friday.

Kazmir issued a similar line to his start on 9/11, but got the win this time as he went seven innings, giving up four hits and one earned run.  Two of Kazmir’s strikeouts came when a runner was on second base. No opposing player got more than one hit.

The A’s Josh Reddick provided the pivotal offense. After going 0-for-5 Thursday, he had three RBIs, the most he’s had since May 16.

The Rangers coach went to the mound four times. Nick Tepesch issued four walks and five earned runs in 4.1 innings, but only one of the issued walks resulted in a run.

Texas’ Leonys Martin used his speed to steal second for the second game in a row, after leading off with a single in the bottom of the first. That put him in position to score after Ryan Rua hit a double, the only time the Rangers led.

The A’s went ahead for good in the top of the third. Eric Sogard walked after one out and Coco Crisp reached on an error by Adam Rosales. An Adam Dunn double brought Sogard and Crisp home to make it 2-1.

Reddick led off the fourth with a homer for the game winning run, to make it 3-1.

The top of the fifth was the worst inning for the Rangers. With one out, Josh Donaldson singled and Brandon Moss walked. There was a coach visit at the mound, then Jed Lowrie doubled to make it 4-1. Tepesch left for Robbie Ross Jr. before another coach visit, but Reddick hit a two-run single to make it 6-1.

Texas’ last run started with an error in the bottom of the fifth.

1-2-3 innings ensued until the end of the game with the exception of the bottom of the ninth.

Game notes: Donaldson hurt his knee in the third inning but played the whole game. Oakland will be gunning against the Rangers again tomorrow at 5:05pm and Sunday.

Sharks’ shots don’t count in preseason opener Part 1

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Photo: The Canadian Press

By Pearl Allison Lo

Although San Jose had a overall 34-19 shot advantage, they weren’t enough as the Canucks’ goalies beat the Sharks’ split squad playing in Vancouver Tuesday, 4-2.

Bo Horvat scored the game winner at 11:33 of the third after winning a faceoff. Horvat was aided by Derek Dorsett and Mike Zalewski.

Starting at 5:35 in the first, San Jose had four shots on goal, including one by Matthew Nieto after he had a takeaway, in under 30 seconds.

The Canucks’ Jordan Subban scored the only goal of the first period.  He was aided by Hunter Shinkaruk and Linden Vey at 7:51.

The Sharks’ Taylor Fedun who led all with six shots on goal, was busy starting at 15:11, with a blocked shot, two shots on goals and a missed shot in just over 20 seconds.

Each team had a power play opportunity in the period, but Vancouver was the more active with seven opportunities during to one.

San Jose got most of their shots during the second period, outshooting the Canucks 18-5.

Vancouver starting goalie Eddie Lack came out around the 12th minute. His team had seven giveaways during the period before that. Lack was replaced by Joel Cannata who was tested early, and able to withstand one power play, before Brent Burns scored during the Sharks’ second power play of the period at 16:07. Burns was helped by Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture.

Shinkaruk scored less than a minute later though to give the Canucks back the lead. He was assisted by Alex Friesen and Vey.

Marleau then came back just over a minute later to score single-handedly at 18 minutes into the period. He scored on his own takeaway.

Vey capped the game with less than 30 seconds left, as he scored on an empty netter. Four San Jose opportunities in the 18th minute preceded the goal. Daniel Sedin and Radim Vrbata aided as Vey earned his third point of the night.


Game notes: Both Burns and Vancouver’s Kevin Bieksa led with four blocked shots apiece. They were also the two players on the ice the most, with Bieksa on for 28:25 and Burns on for 26:39. Other leaders were Dane Fox with four hits. Meanwhile, in Stockton, the Sharks’ other split squad ended up with a more dominant score to even San Jose’s preseason opener, beating the Canucks 5-2. The Sharks will come back together when San Jose plays the Phoenix Coyotes Friday at 7:30pm.