SAN JOSE -- You'd never know the Toronto Maple Leafs are in third place in the Eastern Conference after the Sharks blew them away like a pile of dead leaves that have fallen from the trees.
While it seemed to be a struggle in the first period with a disallowed goal that should have counted in favor of Team Teal, the Sharks routed the Maple Leafs 6-2. With the Sharks having won eight of their last 11 games, they're now just two points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the lead in the Pacific Division.
Still, coach Todd McLellan is cautiously optimistic.
"There's always the talk of Anaheim, you're chasing them down, that type of stuff but there's a team in LA that's won eight games straight and they're going on a five game homestand. The St. Louis's, the Chicago's, the Colorado's...they're all playing well. So just to keep up with the rest of the league, you have to win. We did a pretty admirable job here at home and we've got to go back out on the road out east for the last time and try and get things done there."
The Sharks had the Leafs frustrated all night and it boiled over with four fights breaking out on the ice.
On my way to the dressing room I bumped into former Shark Mike Ricci who now serves as a development coach. I asked him about the Gordie Howe hat trick by Tommy Wingels and he told me anytime you can put your name with Gordie Howe that's a good thing.
His teammates agreed, notably Joe Thornton who said with a smile, "It's a good accomplishment." Turning point Brent Burns goal in which he scores doing a pirouette in the slot after Joe Thornton failed to convert with an open net. That goal gave the Sharks a lead they would not relinquish.
Game highlights
Contenders
Tommy Wingels - Of course he's the top contender although it's odd he wasn't picked as one of the three stars of the game. Wingels with his first "Gordie Howe hat trick". For a guy who rarely drops the gloves he had some nifty moves in his scrap with Joffrey Lupul.
"We have guys in the lineup who are willing to (fight)," Wingels said. "We all like to play a game that's fast and physical but try not to get caught up in those kinds of games where there's a lot of fights but tonight was a little different and I thought we handled ourselves as best we could."
Joe Pavelski - Two more goals and an assist for Pavelski who now has a career high 34 goals on the season.
Pretenders
Marty Havlat - After a shot from the left circle by James Sheppard took a long rebound off the crossbar, Justin Braun briefly had the puck just inside the zone. He passes to Havlat who fumbles the puck and just moments after the Sharks odd man rush, Toronto gets a 2-on-1 break and a goal. Good for Marty to redeem himself getting the final Sharks goal of the game.
James Reimer - So what if he had 42 saves, he also allowed six goals. Not his best night in the net.
Officials - for disallowing what should have been a goal for Tommy Wingels. Overhead replay clearly showed the puck crossed the goal line and the whistle was inadvertently blown too soon. Even after video review the goal wasn't allowed. Notes
Joe Pavelski registered his 400th career point on his first goal of the night.
According to statistician Darin Stephens, the Sharks are 14-0 when a player has a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Stephens also discovered that Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a +5 on the night, tying his career high (Nov. 17, 2011 vs Detroit). He is the first player in Sharks history to have two games in which he was a +5 or better.
Up next, the final East Coast road trip for the Sharks as San Jose travels to take on the Blue Jackets, Islanders and Rangers. The next home game is Tuesday against Florida.
Keep your head up,
Ryan Leong