SAN JOSE -- The Sharks got a much needed boost welcoming back forward Brent Burns to the ice.
Burns' presence allows the team to have everyone on their normal lines. For this game, that meant a strong performance from the Sharks number two line and particularly Tommy Wingels who scored a pair of goals in a 5-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lighting.
Burns back in the lineup after missing 13 games when he got a stick in the face from Ottawa's Robin Lehner got in on the act scoring the fourth goal in the third period getting credit on a second redirect near the crease.
This game is similar to when Dan Boyle made his return and also lit the lamp. The only difference is the Sharks completely dominated this game from the start.
Goal descriptions
1. A short pass from the left goal line to the left circle near the slot for the wrister by Tommy Wingels.
2. It becomes a 2-0 lead after a blocked shot by Tyler Kennedy rebounds to the point where Brad Stuart's hard shot finds its way through traffic into the back of the net.
3. Another short pass behind the net to Wingels who worked hard to make his way to the doorstep for the perfect tip in.
4. Brent Burns is the beneficiary of a second tip in. The initial shot from the point by Scott Hannan is first tipped by Joe Thornton and then by Burns who has the puck deflecting off his legs into the net.
5. 19 seconds later: Patrick Marleau skates through the slot, whiffs on the first shot attempt but regains control of the puck and beats Lindback with a backhander in the crease.
6. Tyler Johnson skates through the middle of the ice and gets a perfect centering pass for the goal.
It was almost a perfect period for the Sharks, scoring early and late in the opening 20 minutes. If not for some good goaltending by Andres Lindback it should have a three or perhaps a four goal lead.
The game was also cleanly played with only three penalties, all in the first period.
Wingels on the importance of the return of Burns, "Brent is a very big piece of this lineup in our team. You can see his presence out there helps us as a lineup and as a forward group. It's an intimidation against the other team. He's a big body going in on the forecheck and his presence is very welcomed back today."
Turning point
This game was the Sharks all the way but I suppose it could be the second goal of the game by Brad Stuart which occurred at 18:03 of the first period.
Contenders
Sharks second line - accounting for four of the five goals and everyone on the line was in sync.
Tommy Wingels - scores two goals for the first time in a game and has a career best seven on the season.
On his two goal game, Wingels jokingly said, "That was my first one?...It's fun scoring goals in this league. It's Patty (Marleau) and Logan (Couture) on both those plays and I happened to be the beneficiary of the plays."
Antti Niemi - very steady in the net for the Sharks. Tampa Bay had its share of quality scoring chances but Niemi and the defense did a solid job of preventing the Lighting from scoring until the third period ending a shutout bid.
Pretenders
Tampa Bay's top line - Not for lack of effort but the trio of Teddy Purcell, Martin St. Louis and Valtteri Fippula had a total of 13 shots, seven by Fippula and were stymied the entire night.
Post game notes:
The Sharks are 8-0-1 with Burns and 6-3-4 without him. ... Niemi had 36 saves, his second highest save total of the season (Highest: 42, 11/10/13 @ Winnipeg). ... The Sharks went 37 for 58 (64%) in the faceoff circle.