Deep Blue Sea: Orange beards massive success against orange team

God bless Joakim Ryan and Joe Pavelski and their perfect ginger beards.

Look, I know there are a lot of beards on this team. Brent Burns and Joe Thornton are always going to get the attention for their larger than life facial hair. But for a moment, let’s reflect oh just how good Pavelski and Ryan are in the facial hair department: neat, trimmed, full, ginger. Are these not the best qualities a beard can have?

Something about the bearded duo was working last night, because these two combined for six points against the Edmonton Oilers, including Ryan’s first and second NHL goals.

And in front of their dads, no less!

Here’s what people who don’t write for us have been saying about the Sharks:

• NHL: Joakim Ryan's two goals lift Sharks past Oilers
  Bank the two points. Burn the tape.
• NHL: Could the Sharks use Mark Letestu or Patrick Maroon?
  With injuries piling up, might the Sharks be interested in Edmonton Oilers forwards Mark Letestu or Patrick Maroon?
• Sharks' Joel Ward optimistic he can return from injury soon
  Sharks forward said he will not need surgery and that the injury started to feel better the next day
• Ward Injury Asks More Questions of Sharks Fourth Line Looking for Answers - NBC Bay Area
  Age caught up to Joel Ward this season, but with him going down to injury, the search continues to find an identity on the fourth line.
• Calgary Flames recall record-setting rout of Sharks 25 years ago | Calgary Sun
  Twenty-five years after the fact, you will still find several mentions of this night in the Calgary Flames franchise record book.
• 'Putting on USA sweater is something I'll never forget' | Local Sports | eagletribune.com
  This has been a dream of mine since I started playing youth hockey. It has finally hit me, here in South Korea, that I'm going to be playing in the Olympics.

And from the world of hockey:

• Hockey: Germany's Winter Olympic coach wants to coach in NHL
  German Marco Sturm played 938 NHL games, and he wants an NHL coaching career that lasts just as long.
• Finns to the NHL in a flash: Heiskanen, Tolvanen are ready | NBC Olympics
  No current NHL players are in PyeongChang, but 2017 first-round draft picks Miro Heiskanen and Eeli Tolvanen are playing for Finland before starting their U.S. careers.
• Wild still in wait-and-see mode for NHL trade deadline - StarTribune.com
  With a lineup that's been at full strength in only five games approaching mid-February, team brass is still making evaluations before the Fev. 26 trade window closes.
• Rangers rookies make good first impression in NHL debuts | New York Post
  There was no way to completely shed the nerves that came with Friday night, but John Gilmour and Neal Pionk found some comfort in being able to look across the...
• NHL - Playoff chances report for Eastern Conference, Western Conference
  At this point, the target points for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference is around 90. In the West, it's higher, around 98 points. Here's a look at the teams currently fighting for those spots, and their chances of making it.
• Inside the NHL: It’s time to dump terrible playoff format – The Buffalo News
  The current format means you almost never pit the two best teams in the East or West in the conference final. If they're from the same division, they're going to meet in the second round.
• 3 Things we learned in the NHL: Life on the road can be pretty good - Sportsnet.ca
  The Calgary Flames won on the road yet again, Kyle Turris received a heartwarming ovation on his return to Ottawa, and the Dallas Stars extended the Chicago Blackhawks' home woes.
• Down Goes Brown: 12 NHL GMs under the most deadline pressure - Sportsnet.ca
  This time of year every NHL GM is under pressure. But we've identified a dozen who'll be feeling it most in the weeks leading up the trade deadline.
• Andrei Vasilevskiy makes mind-boggling behind-the-back glove save - SBNation.com
  HOW????
• Rangers make their emergency goalie wear a No. 69 ‘McBackup’ uniform - SBNation.com
  ... nice.