by Ivan Makarov
SAN JOSE, CA – It’s a new beginning for the Sharks as they opened their season against Vancouver Canucks. With several new players in the lineup, they started with a bang and the 4-1 victory at home, winning 10th straight against the Canucks.
Brent Burns, Justin Braun, Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels scored for the Sharks while Antti Niemi made 21 saves to earn his first victory in the net this season.
The Sharks didn’t get the big goal advantage until late in the third period, but they played well all throughout the game, and their victory was not surprising.
“I thought the effort was good,” said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan after the game. “Some of the things that we worked on in training camp showed throughout the game, so it’s a good sign. I thought there was some cohesion with the lines, which was good as well. … Everybody found a way to contribute.”
Jason Garrison opened the score in the game half way through the first period as Cancucks went on the power play after Brent Burns was sent to the penalty box after a slashing call against him. Canucks scored quickly after Garrison got a pass from behind the net from Daniel Sedin as he was open in a high slot. He fired the puck on a one-time attempt and put it into the net.
After a slow start in the second period, Sharks woke up 6 minutes into it. Thomas Hertl had the puck in the central circle and some speed. He had Brent Burns on his right and passed the puck to him right as Burns skated past the blue line into the Canucks zone. Burns kept accelerating and as he got to the right point, he fired the puck high and above Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo shoulder into the net, tying the game at 1-1. This was Thomas Hertl’s first NHL point.
“Tommy made a great play as I was coming wide with speed,” said Brent Burns after the game. “I’ve been taking a lot of heat from the coaches for not shooting, so I didn’t know if anybody else was out there and I was just shooting.”
Sharks got another break four minutes later as they went on 5-on-3 power play for two minutes, with two Canucks getting called into the penalty box. They moved the puck well, but not enough to have any scoring chances, putting just three shots on goal during those two minutes.
After more power play frustration throughout the period, Sharks put another goal on board as Justin Braun shot the puck from the blue line, with a group of players in front of him. With Logan Couture screening Luongo, the puck flew into the net, giving Sharks 2-1 lead.
But it was in the third period when things finally started to click for the Sharks, at least on event strength, as Sharks would end the night with 0/8 on the power play. First it was Patrick Marleau at 14:39 who scored from the left circle after Logan Couture stole the puck from one of the Canucks players and set him up to give the Sharks two goal lead. Tommy Wingels sealed the victory for the Sharks little over a minute later as he tipped in a pass from Andrew Desjardins as two were on a breakaway, which made it 4-1 for the Sharks with just four minutes remaining in the game.
It was a great way to open the season for the Sharks against a divisional rival. They’re back in action on Saturday as they host Phoenix Coyotes.
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