The San Jose Sharks destroyed the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday Night and for the first time this season we had a peak into this teams full potential.
Tomas Hertl had a pair of goals and Matt Nieto, Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi also chipped in to ignite the Sharks offense and help beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-0.
That's S-E-V-E-N goals in one game...That's a touchdown and the extra point. It was the Sharks largest margin of victory in 15 years.
After a scoreless first period Brent Burns started the ball rolling in a four-goal, second-period eruption. His highlight-reel move for his 17th goal of the season was all the gasoline San Jose needed to ignite their offensive explosion.
The Sharks scored four goals in the second period and three more in the third period. It was the first time San Jose scored more than five goals all season and the first time in three weeks they scored more than four.
The Sharks found the scoring depth that was supposed to be their biggest asset heading into the season.
Martin Jones made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the first since a 1-0 overtime win over the Flyers on Nov. 19.
The Sharks finished the five-game home stand with a 2-3 mark and still has the worst home record in the league at 6-12-0.
But, they won and they won big. Can they use this as a springboard into better things to come? I'm not sure but the next two night's should give us a better idea of just where this team is mentally and emotionally.
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San Jose kicks off a short two game roadie tonight in Calgary followed by a tilt with the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
The Flames (19-19-2) and Sharks (19-18-2) are tied for sixth in the Pacific with 40 points. The clubs split the previous two meetings each winning on home ice.
To me this game is one of the most intriguing of the year. The Flames are allowing over three goals a game this season. Can the Sharks build off Saturday's big win and keep the offense rolling?
San Jose is still alive in the playoff hunt and they are playing a division foe on the road...which team shows up? The really dominant one we saw against the Leafs or the Jekyll and Hyde mess we've become accustomed to?
The winner of tonight's game can catch the Canucks for third place in the Pacific...IF... Vancouver loses to the red hot Florida Panthers.
Either way...tonight's game should be a hoot.
Thanks for reading, Steve