SAN JOSE -- This could be an interesting stretch for the Sharks. Logan Couture did have surgery on his right hand and is expected to be out a month or so. Already missing Tomas Hertl and with the ineffectiveness of Marty Havlat, Team Teal needs to get more contributions from others.
This gives Patrick Marleau an opportunity to play center. Marleau had been playing left wing. But San Jose got a big boost with the return of Tommy Wingels who had missed five games with an upper body injury.
San Jose's strength particularly at home has been scoring in the first period and the trend continued against Detroit as Joe Pavelski scored two goals in a 4-1 rout on Thursday night.
Said Pavelski of his hot streak having scored eight goals in ten games: "I've been around the net a little bit. I've had some good goals, some goals you're lucky with at times and playing with good players who are getting multiple looks throughout the night. Between Burnsy and me, we're getting to the net and Jumbo's making all the passes and the power play's starting to click a little bit. It all ads up."
Goal descriptions
1. Joe Pavelski on a pretty centering feed near the goal line on the right side by Joe Thornton, beats Jimmy Howard over his right leg for the 1-0 Sharks lead.
2. Marc Eduoard Vlasic lost his stick and Tomas Tatar sensing this, skates towards Vlasic who is right outside the crease. Tatar makes his way towards the blue paint and beats Antti Niemi with a pretty backhand over his left shoulder.
3. Andrew Desjardins with a pretty move passes the puck along the boards to get by defenseman Jakub Kindl and shoots the puck from the left side near the goal line and beats Howard on the short side.
4. Joe Pavelski picks up the rebound off the initial shot from the point from Brad Stuart. Pavekski beats Howard on the far side of the net.
5. Dan Boyle shoots the puck from the right circle on the man advantage.
Turning point
Andrew Desjardins soft goal allowed by Howard giving the Sharks a 2-1 lead and the first of three straight goals. There was also a total meltdown of discipline with 13 penalties assessed between the two teams in the final 5:03.
Contenders
Joe Pavelski - 12 goals in his last 15 games including scoring a pair of goals for the third time this season.
Brent Burns, who was a plus three on the night.
Pretenders
The officials for blowing the puck dead when Howard made a butterfly save moments after the Desjardins goal but the puck was just behind him. None of the referrees or linesmen were in good position but it was a poor decision to whistle the play dead.
Jimmy Howard - the veteran Detroit netminder wasn't at his sharpest, particularly on the Desjardins goal. The Red Wings defense also wasn't the best but four goals allowed is always too many in any game. As a result, Howard didn't play the third period.
Todd Bertuzzi - no shots on goal in his last six games and gets a double minor for unsportsman like conduct and roughing for taking off his helmet and trying to throw it at Tommy Wingels.
Daniel Cleary - takes a cheap shot at Scott Hannan with an elbow to the face. Hannan understandably retaliates dropping the gloves. Hannan unfortunately got a game misconduct in addition to roughing and fighting.
The Sharks are back on home ice, Saturday night to play the Boston Bruins, faceoff at 7:30 pm.
Notes
The Sharks are 11-2-1 against the Red Wings in their last 14 games. ... San Jose finished the night 31-for-52 (60 percent) from the faceoff circle. ... Burns, Thornton, and Pavelski have combined for 36 points (13 goals and 23 assists) in the last 10 games.