Statistical Analysis
Sharks vs. Avalanche: By the numbers
A look at the numbers behind the Sharks' 3-2 shootout win over Colorado.
- Fantastic game for Patrick Marleau and, to a slightly lesser extent, the entirety of that new line with Gomez and Pavelski. They still weren't clicking to the degree that they created tons of chances (a few of the five Marleau was on for came in the midst of line changes) but they were dominant territorially; the Avs were hardly able to establish themselves in the offensive zone and couldn't register a single scoring chance with that trio on the ice.
- On the other end of the spectrum, this might have been Murray's worst game of a terrible season. I feel bad for the guy given that this fairly obviously isn't a question of effort; the game has just passed him by and that's been the case for well over a year.
- It was a nice half-week while it lasted, but Michal Handzus is unsurprisingly back to being useless at even-strength. It certainly doesn't help that he was saddled with Kennedy, who's below replacement-level in his own end and the neutral zone, as a linemate all night. At least 'Zus is still money in the shootout.
- While his numbers aren't overwhelming or anything (and his turnover on the Kobasew goal was embarrassing), I thought Jason Demers had a solid game at both ends of the rink.
- Similarly, while a few poor shifts in their own end make Sheppard and Galiardi's numbers appear merely good instead of great, I'd really like to see what they can do with a better center than Burish. They could potentially even move Sheppard to center and throw Tommy Wingels on right wing. It's just one game, and against a bad team at that, but this was the best performance I've seen out of either player.
- Despite creating the game-opening goal, Thornton's line was mediocre in this game. I still really like Paul Stastny as a player but he isn't the elite two-way force he once was. Thornton, Couture and Havlat needed to do better in that matchup (and also needed to do better at not getting scored on with the likes of McLeod and Olver on the ice).
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