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No answers for league's worst
team
Sharks drop 6-3 decision to Columbus
On January 31st, the Sharks pummeled the Columbus
Blue Jackets 6-0 at HP Pavilion, winning for the third time in three tries
against the Ohio based franchise this season. Three weeks later, Columbus
exacted some revenge, sinking the Sharks to a new low with a 6-3 victory at
Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets scored four 1st period goals then coast to
an overwhelming victory.
The loss may have been the low point to the
season for a Sharks team that has suddenly found it difficult to turn in a
solid 60 minutes. Making the 6th stop on their season long 9-game road trip,
San Jose looked absolutely abysmal against the league's worst team. Columbus
entered the game trailing the next closest team by double figures in points.
They sit as the only team in the league that doesn't have at least 20 wins.
San Jose made the Blue Jackets look like world beaters in the opening
period. Jeff Carter converted two-thirds of his hat-trick in the opening period
with a pair of power play goals. R.J Umberger and Rick Nash also scored in the
opening 20 minutes, chasing Antti Niemi, who made 8 saves on 11 shots.
Umberger backhanded a deflection off a Grant Clitsome shot past Niemi 5 minutes
into the game.
Carter made it 2-0 three minutes later on the power
play after Joe Pavelski was sent off for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Carter took a Vinny Prospal feed in the slot and snapped a shot past Niemi
after splitting two defenders.
Nash capitalized on a defensive
breakdown, cutting across the slot after dropping Andrew Desjardins and
snapping a shot home for his 20th goal of the season. Sharks head coach Todd
McLellan yanked Niemi in favor of Thomas Greiss to light a fire under his team.
Carter was credited with the Blue Jackets 4th goal with 30 seconds
left in the period. San Jose fell victim to some overzealous officiating, when
Don Vanmassenhoven set Ryane Clowe for roughing when teammate Tommy Wingels
squared off with Umberger and Ran Johansen. Carter was in the vicinity of the
puck as it deflected off a skate in front of the right post and floated over
the goal line.
The Sharks looked poised to make a game of things when
they scored two quick goals early in the 2nd period. Joe Thornton was the
beneficiary of a Colin White shot that hit off his skate, deflecting past Blue
Jackets goaltender Steve Mason.
Logan Couture snapped a shot past
Mason 26 seconds later. Michal Handzus carried the puck up the gut before
sliding a pass over to Couture on the left wing. The young forward ripped a
25-foot shot that beat Mason to the stick side.
The Sharks lost their way midway through the period,
when Clowe took a cross-checking penalty then added another two minutes for
unsportsmanlike conduct after he slammed the penalty box door shut. The Blue
Jackets converted with about 40 seconds left in the double minor. Donald Savard
pumped a shot from the left point that slipped past Greiss for the 5-2 lead.
Carter made it 6-2 early in the 3rd period, punching home a shot from
right in front of the Sharks net after San Jose failed to cover the Blue
Jackets forward.
Logan Couture added his 27th goal of the season on
the power play with 11:25 left in the contest, but it was too little too late.
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think of this story? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| CBJ |
4 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
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| 1st period - 1, CBJ,
Umberger 10 (Clitsome, Brassard), 4:55. 2, CBJ, Carter 13 (Propsla, Letestu),
6:51, (pp). 3, CBJ, Nash 20 (Brassard, Umberger), 15:18. 4, CBJ, Carter 14
(Prospal, Savard ), 19:30, (pp). |
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| 2nd period - 5, SJ,
Thornton 13 (White, Desjardins), 5:11. 6, SJ, Couture 26 (Handzus, Braun),
5:37. 7, CBJ, Savard 2 (Nikitin, Vermette), 10:59, (pp). |
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| 3rd period - 8, CBJ,
Carter 15 (Nash, Prospal), 1:26. 9, SJ, Couture 27 (Pavelski, Boyle), 8:35,
(pp). |
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| 1st period - Pavleski,
SJ (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:23; Gillies, CBJ (interference), 12:52; Clowe,
SJ (roughing), 17:44; Wingels, SJ (fighting major), 17:44; Umberger, CBJ
(fighting major), 17:44. |
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| 2nd period - Nash, CBJ
(boarding), 2:15; Clowe, SJ (cross checking), 7:37; Clowe, SJ (unsportsmanlike
conduct), 7:37. |
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| 3rd period - White, SJ
(elbowing), 1:48; Tyutin, CBJ (hooking), 7:56; Handzus, SJ (hooking), 12:32;
GIllies, CBJ (hooking), 15:17; Winchester, SJ (roughing), 1938. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Niemi |
11 |
8 |
| SJ - Greiss |
24 |
21 |
| CBJ - Mason |
41 |
38 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
18 |
12 |
11 |
41 |
| CBJ |
15 |
6 |
14 |
35 |
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| Referees: Dwyer,
VanMassenhoven. Linesmen: Galloway, Pancich. |
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