Something amazing happened tonight: The Sharks scored in overtime and STILL won the game. After losing five straight games San Jose can finally say hello to the win column after they downed the Calgary Flames 3-2.
Despite outshooting the Flames 35-13, the Sharks were embroiled in another overtime game. Although it’s frustrating to see San Jose in so many three-point games, it’s nice to know that they were probably wronged by a bit of bad puck luck tonight.
The Sharks have now won just two of their seven overtime games — this is only their second overtime game to not go to a shootout.
Logan Couture got the Sharks on the board just 1:32 into the game. A Patrick Marleau shot was blocked to the left of the slot and Couture followed it up and buried it over the left shoulder of Berra for his eighth goal of the season. Couture’s goal marked the eighth time the Sharks scored in the first two minutes of a game this season. That’s pretty good.
After a woeful attempt on their first powerplay of the game, the Sharks rebounded to score on their second. With a minute to go in the first period Marleau took advantage of a Couture screen in front of Berra and made it 2-0 less than 10 seconds into the man advantage.
Following a scoreless second period the Sharks decided to make things interesting again. After Justin Braun was called for a not-great interference call the Flames cut the Sharks lead to one as Kris Russell scored five seconds into the powerplay. Less than a minute after the goal Tyler Kennedy committed a very real tripping penalty which put Calgary right back on the man advantage. The Sharks were able to kill it off, but San Jose looked poised to let another winnable game slip through their grasp.
The Flames drew even on a goal from Mike Cammalleri halfway through the third period, and just like that San Jose were in territory that had become all too familiar as of late.
Despite putting on a strong push to close out the game, the Sharks went to their fifth overtime game in the last six — but this time San Jose would finally, mercifully come out on top. A deflection off of the much maligned Brad Stuart’s leg snapped the Sharks losing streak.
- Something amazing happened: Joe Thornton shot the puck (!) and then the puck went into the back of the net (!)
- Okay, yeah, and Brad Stuart standing there helped, too.
- The Sharks looked very, very good for the first two periods. Like, scary good. They’ll talk about not capitalizing on chances, I’ll chalk it up to bad puck luck.
- That five minute stretch in the third where they gave up two goals was not awe-inspiring. I know, that’s the kind of hard hitting analysis you come here for.
- The Flames had six shots in the first two periods COMBINED. That is not good.
- Alex Stalock looked solid in net tonight although he wasn’t tested much. Giving up two goals on 13 shots is really going to do a number on that sparkly save percentage of his.
- With the Sharks officially off the snide they’ll look to get a win streak going when they head to Vancouver on Thursday.
- Logan Couture looked like a wizard out there tonight — and not just on the goal. His skating ability is great to watch.
- Reto Berra was a big reason the Flames stayed in the game tonight.
- Since Brad Stuart scored the OT winner, Matt Irwin better get reeeeaaaal used to hanging out in the press box.
FTF Three Stars
1st Star: Joe Thornton
2nd Star: Logan Couture
3rd Star: Ray Berra
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