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Sharks can’t hold off the Blackhawks in a tight entertaining game |
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San Jose did a lot of things well tonight but couldn’t pull out the win in Chicago as the Blackhawks took it 3-2 in OT.
The Sharks first period in Chicago was so much better than the night before in St Louis that it made you wonder who suited up for team teal against the Blues. They fired 17 shots on net in the first, which was almost as many they had in the entire game last night and more importantly they were able to light the red lamp. After not coming close to scoring a goal against the Blues getting on the board after a solid twenty boosted the confidence of the Sharks squad who have struggled lately.
The Chicago Blackhawks are a similar team to the Sharks with two great scoring lines and marquis players in Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa as well as an offensively talented defensive core. It is no wonder why these teams have great entertaining games when they play against each other.
Jamie McGinn got the team started with a blue collar goal, which is what McGinn is; a blue collar player. He banged away at the side of the net which is where he has scored a couple of goals lately and it is becoming his office like Thornton’s is behind the net with the puck.
Antti Niemi got the start for the second night in a row and deservedly so. Niemi was the Sharks best player last night and he also plays his best hockey against his former team. The goaltending battle was a good one and if not for the Blackhawks starting goalie Ray Emery this game would have been out of reach after the second period.
Chicago tied the game momentarily after a Hjalmarsson point shot was tipped in front of Niemi by Kruger. Less than two minutes later Justin Braun got his first goal of the year on a quick snap shot from the top of the circle after Brad Winchester showed great patience with the puck and fed a beautiful pass to Braun. The Sharks took the momentum right back which was key for a team whose confidence is somewhat shaky.
The Blackhawks tied the game in the third with the goalie on the bench and it was only a matter time before Chicago scored the way they hammered the Sharks in the third period.
The momentum created by Chicago in the third period carried over into overtime as they dominated puck possession and face-offs. Patrick Sharp was the OT hero for the Blackhawks as he out battled Brent Burns for the puck and scored the game winner with just over half a minute to play.
The turning point in this game was the whole third period. In particular the tying goal, but you would have to be blind to not see that goal coming. Chicago outshot San Jose in the third 16-3 and dominated play in the third. The Sharks had no answer for Marion Hossa or Jonathan Toews who both had plenty of chances to score.
The Sharks played a fantastic forty minutes and had they been able to put one more past Emery it would have been enough to take the wind out of the sails of Chicago. These teams are very closely matched and have become a great rival for the Sharks.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Antti Niemi – was at his best as he usually is against his old team. Niemi in the third kept his team in the game because with the number of quality chances the Blackhawks had it could have gotten ugly. Niemi is the first contender.
Ray Emery – was also great tonight and he kept his team in it in the first two periods. He got the win tonight but gets the second contender because the puck is always tougher to stop in the third than it is in the first two.
Marion Hossa – was good all night and the way he was stoned by Niemi you couldn’t have blamed him for giving up; but he didn’t. For a great effort and resilience Hossa finds his way onto the contenders list.
Justin Braun – was good all night and used his speed to get the puck out of their zone as well as to create offense. Braun scored his first goal of the year on a good low hard shot that beat screened Ray Emery.
Pretenders
Ready Eddie – had a tough one tonight going minus – 2 in the game and couldn’t find a way to get the puck out in the third period. Vlasic was the first pretender tonight.
Brent Burns – lost the battle with Patrick Sharp on the winning goal. Burns is bigger and stronger than Sharp and there is no way he shouldn’t get that puck out of the zone in over time. Burns joins his defense partner on the pretenders list. This team needs him to find his offensive groove, it is easy to see he is trying to create something but it just hasn’t been happening for him.
The Sharks move on to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Tuesday night in the first of a home and home series.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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