The Sharks performed the way everybody has been expecting them to as they mopped the floor with the Tampa Bay Lightning by scoring five goals in the first period in San Jose at the Shark Tank tonight where the final score 7-2.
It was the most goals the Sharks have scored in a period this season. Tonight we saw an explosion of offense that the fans, the media, and the players have been expecting since the start of the season.
Coach McLellan summed it up pretty well “It was nice to be in a game that you felt you had control in. For the most part the guys felt a little loose on the bench which was nice, usually we are in that one goal game. I don’t want to say we relaxed but we enjoyed it a little bit more.”
The big news coming out of San Jose was about Martin Havlat who had a procedure done today to repair his hamstring which he injured last game while awkwardly jumping onto the ice. Havlat will be out for 6-8 weeks according to GM Doug Wilson. The initial thought for Havlat was that the injury and recovery time was more severe.
Havlat’s skill level will be missed, but the Sharks played their best sixty minutes of the season with Ben Ferriero up from Worcester in his place. Depending on the results of the up-coming games there could be an argument for grit over skill to round out the line-up.
The scoring came fast and furious for the Sharks tonight as they scored three goals in the first 6:21 of the game and that there was the turning point. In the end that was all they needed and when the third one went in from a bad angle scored by a fourth line player you knew it was going to be the Shark’s night.
Everything was going right for the home team tonight, special teams showed up and more importantly the penalty kill was perfect, the scoring was spread out, team defense was good along with the goaltending. It was almost a perfect game for the Sharks.
Both teams hadn’t played since Saturday night and had plenty of time to prepare for the game which makes me wonder where were the Bolts?
Scoring
Ben Ferriero opened the scoring tonight in his first game back up from the AHL playing on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. This was one of the Sharks five goals that were scored while 5 on 5. Andrew Desjardins, Brent Burns, Patty Marleau and Logan Couture scored the other even strength goals while Couture and joe Pavelski scored with the man advantage.
Joe Thornton and Ryan Clowe recorded two assists while Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Patrick Marleau, Michal Handzus, and Andrew Murray all had one. The eventual game winner went to Desjardins whose goal was the one that chased Lightning starter Mathieu Garon from the game only 6:21 into the first period.
For Tampa Bay Dominic Moore and Martin St. Louis lit the lamp with helpers from Eric Brewer and Teddy Purcell.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Special Teams – were awesome tonight. Tampa Bay didn’t put up much of a fight but let’s give these guys credit where it is due. The penalty kill was perfect and the power play was 2 for 4 including a 0:03 power play which does count on the stats sheet. It is nice to be able to put special teams in this column instaed of the one below where they have seen plenty of time this season.
The coach was happy with special teams judging by his comments afterwards “Both had a complete game. The initial penalty kill (which came 0:36 after the puck was dropped) was one that was important for us to get under our belt. They could have got on the board real quick and then we would be chasing a team that checks real well.”
Logan Couture – continues to be the team’s most consistent scorer bagging two goals tonight along with a helper to finish the night with three points.
Brent Burns – was hard to recognize after shaving his rocker lid but when he wound up for the big shot from the point everybody knew who was shooting the puck. He finished the game with a goal and an assist and has been coming on as of late.
The fourth line – was good and tough tonight and this team needs more from them. Desjardins scored his first goal since the first game of the year and can hopefully build some confidence.
Pretenders
Mathieu Garon – let in three goals on eight shots and the third one confirmed his lack of focus. He is the first pretender tonight.
The Lightning’s effort – tonight was just not there, it wasn’t anywhere in the state of California. This team went to the Eastern Conference finals last year and you would think would have more fight in them than they showed tonight.
The Sharks welcome back former coach Brent Sutter when he comes into San Jose as the new head coach of the LA Kings.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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