The final score was 2-1 for the Sharks tonight, but if not for the play of Blue Jackets goaltender Curtis Sanford the Sharks would have feasted on a struggling Columbus team.

In Joe Thornton’s 500th game as a Shark he scored the game winning goal in the second period and it was business as usual for San Jose. They played a good solid game, which is what we have come to expect from this team on their current run.

The Sharks coach commented afterwards “After about the ten minute mark we settled in and started to play, but until then the game didn’t get away on us.”

The score was close, the game was not. The quality chances favored San Jose tonight. At the end of the game shots were 39-24 favoring the Sharks and Sanford who earned the games second star knows his team is a long way from turning things around.

“It’s been really tough. I don’t know how many games we have played where it has been so close like tonight. It’s tough because your right there, but at the end of the day we’re so far away right now, it’s an uphill battle.”

Columbus deserves some credit for sticking in there and if not for Dan Boyle’s clutch shot block at the end of the third period we would have seen overtime.

Tonight’s game was the first of four meetings between these teams three of which will be played this month. The Jackets had moderate success last year against the Sharks splitting the series 2-2, the first pair of games coming on the Sweden road trip to start the season.

The Sharks looked tired as they stumbled out of the gate the same way they did last night against the Ducks. They gave up the first goal early two nights straight. On the other hand the Blue Jackets came into tonight’s game well rested. This is their first game since a New Year’s Eve loss to Washington; and they had the opportunity to scout San Jose last night.

San Jose took over the momentum in the latter half of the middle frame and dominated the last place Columbus team. Shots on net after two were 30-16 in favor of the Sharks. It appeared that the Sharks found their legs and started playing as the better team that they are.

Typically when a team that is in last place in the NHL comes to town the press box is not that busy, however tonight it was standing room only as scouts from St Louis, Montreal, Florida, and Toronto filled the rafters along with the coaching staff of the Washington Capitals who take the ice against the Sharks Saturday night. It will be another year that the Blue Jackets watch the playoffs from their couches so they will be sellers at the trade deadline next month.

There have been murmurs and rumors as to who will be dealt from the Jackets and there are a few names that draw more attention than others. Rick Nash and Jeff Carter are at the top of the list but both players are signed through 2018 and beyond so there would have to be a special offer on the table to lure them away.

The turning point tonight came on Ryan Clowe’s power play goal to tie the game at 1-1. At that point they beat Sanford and knew they weren’t going to be facing a goalie with luck on his side.

Scoring

Vinny Prospal found the net just two minutes into the game from a bad angle. Mark Letestu and Antoine Vermette assisted on the goal. Thomas Greiss may have had some jitters on that one.

The Sharks Ryan Clowe got the home team on the board at the end of a four minute power play by going to the dirty zone in front of the net. Clowe’s 8th of the year was assisted by Michal Handzus and Jason Demers.

The Sharks went ahead on a Joe Thornton goal. Joe used his baseball skills to bat in his 8th of the year. Patrick Marleau and Jason Demers tallied the assists. Like the second period it was somewhat of a sloppy goal.

Contenders & Pretenders

Contenders

Jason Demers – has seen the wrong side of this list lately, but tonight he deserves to be on the top of the contenders list with two assists in the game.

Justin Braun – has quietly done so many things right and very few things wrong. His recovery speed and acceleration allows him to take small risks and they often pay off for him in terms of moving the puck and the flow of the game. He is the game’s second contender.

Curtis Sanford – was great tonight and deserves credit for doing time in the AHL and then making a comeback to the NHL, and playing well for a team that is in disarray.

Sharks discipline – was superb tonight not giving up a single power play opportunity and Brent Burns also gets kudos for going into the scrum with tough guy Jared Boll to help out the rookie Wingels.

Thomas Greiss – makes the list tonight for playing a solid game after sitting out since December 3rd.

Pretenders

Derek Dorsett – gets the pretenders nod for the cheap shot near the end of the game. He was fortunate to come away with a minor penalty.

The Blue Jackets – as a whole were pretenders tonight for showing no passion, grit, or drive. This team needs a shake-up in a big way. The body language displayed on the ice, in the dressing room and by the coach in the post-game presser tells it all.

The Sharks get a day of rest before they welcome Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to town on Saturday night.

Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Sharks review

» Sharks forge ahead without Boyle

» Battle of Unbeatens: Sharks Go Head-to-Head with Blues

» Sharks take perfect record on the road

» Player Evaluations: Marc-Edouard Vlasic & Raffi Torres