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Quick Bite: West Side Story

Posted on by Sam Blazer

As I sit in my home in Columbus, Ohio, I cuddle up with my computer and sit down to watch some Sharks hockey. Is there anything better?

First Period

The puck is dropped and for the first eight minutes of the game we do not have a stoppage. The Jets are eliminated from playoff contention but they are skating with some purpose and putting the Sharks on their heels at times. Marko Dano and Nik Ehlers lead a promising bunch of youngsters over in Winnipeg.

11:16 into the period, Joe Thornton fed “The Seventh Round Sniper” Joe Pavelski and he did as he always does, he put the puck into the back of the net.

That goal was Pavelski’s 37th of the season. Additionally, it was Thornton’s 62nd assist on the season and he passed Denis Savard and Dave Andreychuk with 1339 points on the all time points list. Jumbo Joe keeps breaking records and I am damn lucky I get to see it.

Not a bad period for the Sharks but I have to say I wasn’t expecting so much fight from the Jets. More power to them as this game has gotten much more exciting.

Second Period

Early into the second period, Justin Braun tripped Marko Dano. For the first time in the game the Sharks were shorthanded and the Jets were pressing.

Fortunately for the Sharks, not much was happening and shut it down pretty easily. Maybe I am trying to make this game a little more exciting then it actually is. After some back and forth play, Nick Spaling got called for slashing and the Sharks were shorthanded once again.

Almost as soon as the power play started for the Jets, they scored courtesy of Mark Scheifele on a bit of a lucky goal.

Roman Polak was in the wrong place at the wrong time as the puck banked in off of his skate. Blake Wheeler assisted on the goal and extended his 10 game point streak.

Shortly after the goal, the Sharks draw a penalty of their own and went onto the power play.

If you thought Joe Thornton was done putting up points tonight, you would be dead wrong. A tic-tac toe play involving Marleau set it up and Jumbo Joe puts it home. The Sharks regain the lead 2-1.

Four minutes later after drawing another penalty, the Sharks got a certain defenseman off the snide. Paul Martin needed a goal in the worst way after a 30+ game drought. He decided to channel his inner Brent Burns and took a slapper that could be heard from anywhere in the Bay Area.

The Sharks getting a little comfortable with their 3-1 lead decided to take their foot off of the gas pedal. In about a minute’s time, late in the second period, the Jets score two quick goals and show their never say die attitude. Both goals were of the even strength variety. After these two goals, Dustin Byfuglien had three assists total on the evening. He wouldn’t be done just yet.

At the end of the second, the game is tied 3-3.

Third Period

18 seconds into the period Logan Couture made a strong move to goal, it was denied but set the table for the period. A couple of minutes later Scheifele believes he scores himself a dandy of a goal but alas, it goes to Toronto and we see pretty clearly it went in with a distinct kicking motion. While it was being reviewed, Scheifele had a long conversation with Jamie Baker about the goal. He tried with all of his might to plead his case to Toronto but it was to no avail.

While Scheifele’s goal didn’t count because it was off of his foot, he was able to help the Sharks score a goal by letting a goal go in off of his rump. The goal will officially be credited to Patrick Marleau but Scheifele really deserves the assist there.

People say patience is a virtue and it finally paid off for Mark Scheifele. The Sharks got called for “kneeing” and the Jets went to the power play. Although they are dead last in power play percentage, Scheifele was determined to change that and pots one into the back of the net. After all of this action the game was tied 4-4.

With about four minutes left in the game, the Sharks get another opportunity on the power play. All night long they have been quite efficient, will this be any different? Unfortunately for the Sharks they were stifled all throughout the power play by Alexander Burmistrov, who has been buzzing around the puck all game.

It looks like the game is about to head to OT but what ends up happening, much to the dismay of the Sharks, is a goal from the bad guys to take a 5-4 lead with ten seconds left in the game. The Jets pull out a victory and stun the San Jose faithful. It looks like Dustin Byfuglien will be credited with the goal. Byfuglien ends his night with four points.

After this loss the Sharks sealed their position in third place. Keep your head up Sharks fans, the playoffs are coming!

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