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Sharks make it two in a row |
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The San Jose Sharks swept the Alberta teams after a 6-3 drubbing of the Oilers in Edmonton.
The Oilers maintenance crew had to check the bulb in the goal light behind the Oilers net after the first period because it was lit six times. Three power play goals and three at five on five ruined the Oilers home opener and took the crowd right out of the game.
“After the last game we had a terrible first period so we wanted to come out strong. We wanted to score some goals, and we did” said Couture after the game.
“We played in their end. It was a total reversal from the first game.”
The Sharks were so good in the first period that they were able use the cruise control in the remaining two frames. The Oilers scored a goal in each period of the game for a 6-3 final but the only time they were in this contest was before the puck was dropped.
“I didn’t think we played the last forty the way we wanted to but it’s a work in progress” was how Coach Todd McLellan’s described the second and third periods.
The Sharks veterans have led the way in this early two game winning streak and it is reassuring as a coach, a GM, a fan, and a team mate to see their experience come through and jump start their season.
The Oilers are a young team with young talent and two of their highly anticipated rookies scored their first NHL goals. Both Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz scored with the man advantage and the way these kids play there is no doubt that there will be plenty more to come in the future. Yakupov’s celebration was extremely exuberant and this young Russian will be fun to watch if he continues to display his emotions on the ice.
Scoring details
1st Period
SJ – 3:17 –PP – 22 D.Boyle(2) – assists – J.Pavelski(3), 19 J.Thornton(3)
SJ – 4:30 –PP – 39 L.Couture(1) – assists – 12 P.Marleau(1), 8 J.Pavelski(4)
EDM – 8:25 –PP – 64 N.Yakupov(1) – assists – 89 S.Gagner(2), 83 A.Hemsky(1)
SJ – 10:02 –EV – 12 P.Marleau(3) – assists – 19 J.Thornton(4), 7 B.Stuart(1)
SJ – 11:07 –PP – 12 P.Marleau(4) – assists – 19 J.Thornton(5), 39 L.Couture(3)
SJ – 18:09 –EV – 39 L.Couture(2) – assists – 9 M.Havlat(1), 21 T. Galiardi(1)
SJ – 19:20 –EV – 44 M.Vlasic(1) – assists – 57 T.Wingels(1), 21 T. Galiardi(2)
2nd Period
EDM – 14:25 –PP – 19 J.Schultz(1) – assists – 93 R.Nugent-Hopkins(1), 14 J.Eberle(1)
3rd Period
EDM - 3:34 –EV – 4 T.Hall(1) – assists – 14 J.Eberle(2), 5 L.Smid(1)
The turning point in this game was the Sharks third goal. The Oilers had just gotten on the scoreboard and cut the lead in half. Patrick Marleau then turned the tides by scoring less than two minutes later. The Oilers were unable to ride the momentum for very long and Patty then netted another one to seal Edmonton’s night.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Patrick Marleau – is off to a great start to the season and scored two goals for the second game in a row. He potted the game winner in the first period and for that he is the first contender.
Logan Couture – before the game spoke about all the attention the young talent in Edmonton gets and that he wanted to remind the hockey world that there is some pretty special young talent in Northern California. Talk is cheap but performance isn’t. Couture backed up his talk with two goals and an assist.
Jumbo Thornton – made it look easy tonight adding three helpers.
Pretenders
Devan Dubnyk – barely made it through the first frame and probably should have been yanked before he was. Dubnyk a product of the Stockton Thunder never had it going tonight and for that he is the game’s pretender.
The Sharks home opener is Thursday night against the Coyotes and I am quite confident that the HP Pavilion will be rocking. Sharks fans are very devoted and I don’t believe there will be a fall out with their popularity from the recent lockout.
The Scott Gomez rumors are getting heated and as Brett Hedican reported before the game it is looking as though he will be signed to a one year deal. The Sharks need depth up front but Gomez has always been given the job of creating offense, not preventing it. It will be interesting to see if he is able to adjust. One thing he has going for him is he grew up in the Devils organization where defense comes first.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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