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That's more like
it
3 goal 1st period opens things up for
SJ
With the abomination in Denver behind them, the
Sharks had a chance to get things on track in Anaheim on Saturday night. It was
also San Jose ’s first crack at trying to exercise some of the demons that
have haunted them since their 1st round exit from the playoffs at the hands of
the Ducks. They took care of both with a resounding 4-1 victory at the Honda
Center. San Jose got plenty of offense, with four different players scoring
goals, but more importantly they punched the Ducks in the mouth in a physical
affair that introduced many of the new Sharks to this divisional rivalry.
One of those new players is Scott Nichol, who acclimated himself by
dropping the gloves with Mike Brown just 1:59 into the contest. The game would
feature plenty of rough stuff in fine Ducks fashion, but this time the Sharks
pushed back.
Most importantly, they pushed back on the scoreboard.
Rookie centerman Benn Ferriero got the Sharks on the board at 7:30
with his first NHL goal. Ferriero chipped in a rebound off Ducks goaltender
Jonas Hiller after defenseman Jason Demers put a shot on goal from the right
point. Frazer McLaren was credited with the secondary assist on the play, which
gave both he and Demers their first NHL points. It was the first time in Sharks
history that three players received their first NHL points on the same play.
Patrick Marleau continued his short goal scoring streak by beating
Hiller on a short-handed chance at 16:46. Marleau stepped in front of a Ryan
Whitney pass inside Sharks blueline and raced up ice with Whitney in tow,
before putting a back-hand chance past Hiller. The goal was Marleau’s 3rd
in the first two games this season.
San Jose would blow open the period
when Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley teamed up on a pretty play to make it 3-0.
With Heatley just released from the box for a tripping infraction, the winger
carried the puck up the right side of the ice on a 2-on-1 chance, and whipped a
pass through the slot to Thornotn, who made a pretty cut back across the top of
the crease from left to right, leaving Hiller diving in the wrong direction.
All Thornton had to do was slip the puck into the Ducks net.
The goal
parade continued early into the middle period, when Devin Setoguchi converted
on the power play at 4:32. With Ryan Whitney in the box for roughing, Setoguchi
worked a give-and-go with Heatley along the left wing boards. The recently
demoted right wing outworked a Ducks defender for the puck, before sliding a
pass to Heatley in the left corner. Heatley then reciprocated by sending the
puck back to Setoguchi, who was cutting toward the goal.
One noticeable difference on Saturday night in
comparison to last spring’s team came on a scrum in front of the Anaheim
net. With Ryan Getzlaf trying to intimidate, Manny Malhotra didn’t wait
for the Ducks centerman to engage. As soon as Getzlaf tried to establish his
presence, Malhotra grabbed him by the jersey and landed a left to the side of
Getzlaf’s head. It wasn’t a haymaker, but it sent the necessary
message.
The Sharks put the clamps on the Anaheim offense, denying the
Ducks a shot a goal until a mere 86 seconds remained in the period. They would
outshoot Anaheim 17-2 in the period.
Anaheim tried to resort to more
shenanigans early in the 3rd period, but Douglas Murray took immediate action.
After a Duck tried to mix it up with Dan Boyle, Murray jumped in and backed up
his defensive partner. He would be ejected from the game with a game misconduct
for this decision to jump in to the fracas, but he may have accomplished more
by earning his teammates trust for backing up his partner.
The Ducks
would finally get on the board midway through the 3rd period, after Marleau was
sent off for goaltender interference. Whitney sent a one-timer that beat Evgeni
Nabokov from the right point.
Nabokov put a string of nice saves
together with under 6 minutes to play, including a pad save on Getzlaf from 8
feet out.
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What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
| ANA |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
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| 1st period - 1, SJ,
Ferriero 1 (Demers, McLaren), 7:30. 2, SJ, Marleau 3 (unassisted), 16:46, (sh).
3, SJ, Thornton 1 (Heatley), 18:23. |
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| 2nd period - 4, SJ,
Setoguchi 1 (Heatley, Thornton), 4:32, (pp). |
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| 3rd period - 5, ANA,
Whitney 1 (Getzlaf), 10:36, (pp). |
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| 1st period - Huskins, SJ
(hooking), 1:59; Nichol, SJ (fighting major), 1:59; Brown, ANA (fighting
major), 1:59; Perry, ANA (hooking), 2:47; Ortmeyer, SJ (holding), 2:58;
Marchant, ANA (holding), 4:46; Demers, SJ (holding), 13:22; Heatley, SJ
(tripping), 16:13. |
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| 2nd period - Whitney,
ANA (roughing), 3:01; Malhotra, SJ (roughing), 8:04; Getzlaf, ANA (roughing),
8:04; Lupul, ANA (roughing), 9;39; Heatley, SJ (interference), 16:26. |
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| 3rd period -
Murray, SJ (game misconduct) 6:27; Shelley, SJ (roughing), 6:27; Brown, ANA
(roughing), 6:27; Brookbank, ANA (10 min misconduct), 6:27; Marleau, SJ
(goaltender interference), 10:18; Perry, ANA (roughing), 11:12; Sbisa, ANA
(hooking), 16:14. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Nabokov |
25 |
24 |
| ANA - Hiller |
37 |
33 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
12 |
17 |
8 |
37 |
| ANA |
7 |
2 |
16 |
25 |
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| Referees: Dwyer,
LaRue. Linesmen: Pare, Sharrers. |
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