The Sharks got standout performances from the Couture and Pavelski lines that combined for all six goals in a 6-1 drubbing of the Wild.
The storyline Thursday night was Logan Couture and Martin Havlat combining for seven points, Torres and Pavelski scored on the same shift in the third period, the Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom was chased from the net for Darcy Kuemper, and great discipline shown by the Sharks not allowing a single power play opportunity.
Tallying seven points in a game (if you include Marleau’s two assists the Couture line had nine points) is very impressive, but putting up those numbers against the opposition’s top line makes it that much more special.
“That line was very very good for us” was how Coach Todd McLellan put it after the game.
“They shut down a very hot and good line. They were a big part of the win.
“They did a good job in the face-off circle to have the puck and they managed the game fairly well.”
The Sharks have played at this high level for a long enough period that we can no longer call it a hot streak that they are on. They showed good discipline again, got stellar goaltending, produced on the power play, and put themselves in a position to roll four lines. This is how good teams win games and the Sharks have been playing like a good team for a long stretch posting the best home record in the NHL at 16-1-5.
“When we play the right way we’re a fast team” commented Coach McLellan.
“It’s not a cliché for us it has to be a fast game, it has to be a north south game. Everybody has to be on their toes.”
San Jose scored some beautiful goals Thursday night to go along with one ugly one. Couture’s power play goal began with a Joe Thornton pass to Marleau in the corner where he delivered a one-time pass to the slot for a one-time shot which went top shelf.
Raffi Torres showed great wheels on a wraparound goal to go with his quick hands after Joe Pavelski finessed a strategic dump in into the corner.
This battle at the HP Pavilion between the Wild and the Sharks was the third and final game between these teams. Coming into this game each team had a win on home ice by two goal deficits. In Minnesota Backstrom recorded a shutout against San Jose on March 23rd and the Sharks doubled up on the Wild 4-2 in the game that finished with fireworks between former Shark Dany Heatley and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
That incident led to a fine on Vlasic and a season ending injury for Heatley.
When the final buzzer went to end Thursday’s contest the Sharks finished a stretch of three games in four nights and thirteen games in twenty-three days. They will get two days off for the first since March 7th and 8th.
The physical challenges on these players are apparent, but the mental struggles should not be overlooked or underappreciated. The game has become so fast that players have to process the game so quickly in their minds that the mental fatigue can become an issue; particularly after this many games in so few nights.
The Wild didn’t have a lot of scoring chances in this game, but the ones they had were quality. Sharks goalie Antti Niemi stopped Jason Pominville on a breakaway from the red line in and was beat on one. The Wild had another half break that Niemi had to be sharp on.
The Wild’s P.M Bouchard scored in the second period when the Sharks defense made a poor decision to change which led to the break away. Bouchard deked Niemi out of his jock, which is isn’t easy to do after we saw him shut down all three LA King’s shooters in the shootout two nights ago.
The turning point in this game was Martin Havlat’s second marker of the game and re-established the Shark’s two goal lead and was a springboard to the next three which came in the third.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Sharks fans at HP Pavilion – are on the list for calling a penalty that led to a Sharks power play goal. The fans were all over the refs for two supposed missed minors that the hold that was called on Clayton Stoner was an awful.
Logan Couture – looked fresh Thursday night against the Wild contributing to the win with two goals and two assists. The third goal was where Couture leaped up the glass to stop a clearing attempt by Backstrom and fed Havlat in front where he had an empty net to fill.
Martin Havlat – is on the list with his line mate Logan Couture because these two showed great chemistry together. Havlat showed great hands on Couture’s second goal of the game when he passed the puck to himself off of the back of the net before setting up his center man for the one-timer.
Pretenders
Mikko Koivu – is on the list for tapping the game’s first goal into his own net. Koivu was on the back check and it was hard luck play, but anytime one scores on his own net will find his way onto the pretender’s list.
Niklas Backstrom – makes the list for a poor clearing attempt that led to the Shark’s third goal. Playing the puck isn’t easy, but when goalies make that decision to venture out of the crease to play it the spotlight is on them and they are heroes or goats.
The Sharks have two days off before they face the Blue Jackets from Columbus who have embarrassed the San Jose the last two times they played winning both games by four goals.
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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