‘Tis the Season to Try New Things
December 26th, 2009 | by Phillip Kern |Since it has been quite some time that I have been writing on Sharks games, I figure that it is not only time to get back into the swing of things but also to do something a little different. It’s going to more period-by-period instead of the usual bullet point stuff as it goes. Never know until you try it right? On we go.
1st Period: A big milestone in this period, as Patrick Marleau scores his 300th career NHL goal, giving a big boost to the club. So how is that followed up? Oh, just a fight between Frazer McLaren and George Parros. It’s always a plus to involve the home crowd early, and especially with Marleau’s quick strike nearly three minutes in. Here is one thing that I love though, even though the Ducks’ style of play is the same, the Sharks are more than ready to trade punches and body blows. This is definitely something that fans appreciate.
Just my two cents on the Ducks, I see this team as being in flux. They start the season with Jonas Hiller as their main netminder, and now they turn back to Jean-Sebastien Giguere who is paid like a starting netminder anyways. Even with the young core that they have, this team is at a crossroads right now. An unsettled goalie situation is never a good thing, something the Sharks were familiar with years ago when going back and forth between Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala. The rest, shall we say, is history.
Here’s another positive from the period, the power play finally working as intended and who else but Marleau tallies #301. If you recall, this has been a source of concern among the team because it has looked disjointed more often than not. Give credit to Marleau, getting himself in front of the net to cash in the opportunity.
One more thing to note, the Sharks attack mode mindset working wonders so far and not spending so much time in their own end. Definitely a great start, a great post-Christmas present for the fans. Score after 1st period: Sharks 2, Ducks 0.
2nd Period: Remember that fight between McLaren and Parros early in the first? Well, looks like Parros got the worst of it as he needed stitches on his hand. That is a job well done, and should add to his tough guy cred because I have rarely seen him back down from a challenge.
Nabokov’s hot streak is carrying over despite the layoff from the Christmas holiday. The stat of the night from Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda: 101 saves out of 106 shots faced, that’s a save percentage of .953 for you number geeks out there. Either way you look at it, that is some unconscious level goaltending.
The offense still continues to pour in as Dany Heatley nets his 23rd goal of the year, putting him in fourth in all of the NHL. Marleau, by the way, is tied for second with 25 goals. I have a feeling that we could actually see a pair of 50-goal scorers when all is said and done. However, James Wisniewski got the worst of that shot as Heatley’s stick came up and got him near the eye…ouch.
Speaking of ouch, the Sharks just aren’t letting up tonight. Not only does Ryane Clowe get an unusual goal off of Scott Niedermayer’s shin, but Jamie McGinn cashes in on a 3-on-2 break within 30 seconds of that goal. This is one of those games where I think it can’t get much better, and then it does. By the way, after a Giguere save, Ryan Whitney was taking out some frustration on Torrey Mitchell while THREE ducks are holding McLaren back. That’s when you know you have the opponent’s attention.
So here’s a question if you’re the Ducks: do you pull Giguere and go with Hiller the rest of the way? Perhaps it would only lead to a more unsettling situation in goal, but it’s one of those things they are probably thinking about at this point. Judging from the look on Hiller’s face on some of the camera shots, he doesn’t look too eager to get back in.
Nabokov won’t get to finish that shutout of his, as he misses the poke check and allows a goal by Kyle Chipchura. He makes a nice play by checking Kent Huskins and getting the turnover in their own zone. I guess something was bound to go right for the Ducks at some point in this game.
Overall, not a whole lot to complain about with the offensive explosion in that period. It sends the crowd into a frenzy tonight, and probably into nearby Round Table Pizza places for some very satisfying pizza. Free meals? Sure thing, a little over 17,000 of them for the fans at the tank tonight. Score after the 2nd period: Sharks 5, Ducks 1.
3rd Period: More injuries for the Ducks, this time to Ryan Getzlaf who suffered a cut to his leg during the second period. I do not see him on the ice currently, so we shall see if he gets back out there anytime soon. Different note, Giguere back out for the third period. I just wonder how shot his confidence is at this point, he’s given up some goals in which you could chalk this up as being a bad day between the pipes. Not that you’ll be getting any sympathy from the Sharks, or their fans for that matter.
I’m giving some credit to the Ducks right now, they are still pressing the issue and it pays off with a Bobby Ryan even strength goal after the power play was killed off. Such an anti-climactic way to end a penalty, and it seems the Sharks are getting cavalier with the lead right now. probably the last thing the coaches and fans want to see.
Another thing I am not pleased with seeing right now, a problem that has been existing all year and it is rearing it’s ugly head: spending too much time in their own end of the ice. I just do not see how you can sit on a lead no matter how big it is. This game should be in the process of being closed out right now, yet it is still competitive right now. The plus side to being competitive though, meaningful bouts and these teams DO NOT LIKE each other. Scott Nichol, a signing that didn’t get much fanfare, continues to get his money’s worth after getting in a fight with Chipchura. It definitely keeps the fans into it.
Wow, just another fight taking place between Jed Ortmeyer and Matt Beleskey and definitely not as much buzz around the arena. It was a last-ditch effort to get some sort of momentum but unless you can get three goals in a minute, the Sharks have this one wrapped up.
Now this win was a nice post-Christmas present, and the Sharks improve to 4-0 against the Ducks this regular season. I had some concerns about the layoff over the Christmas holiday but coach Todd McLellan had these guys ready to play right from the get-go. Good performance tonight, and thanks for following along. Until next time, good night. Final Score: Sharks 5, Ducks 2.
