Statistical Analysis

Sharks vs. Blues: By the numbers

A look at the numbers behind the Sharks' 2-1 win over St. Louis.

Patrick Marleau might have been the Sharks' best player last night and it's been a few weeks since we've been able to say that about him or the other two members of the team's top line. He was physically engaged, effective in the neutral zone and excellent on the cycle.
Burns' numbers don't look too impressive courtesy a few shifts for which he was hemmed in his own zone behind the Sharks' fourth line (in fairness, his turnover did initiate one of those extended sequences) but as I mentioned in the recap, I thought this was his best game of the season so far.
There isn't a diplomatic way to put this so I'm not even going to try: Matt Pelech is terrible at hockey. He played six minutes and managed to be on the ice for nearly half the Blues' even-strength scoring chances in this game. That's certainly not solely on him but there is no sensible reason for him (or Burish, for that matter) to be playing over Scott Gomez and T.J. Galiardi.
They came alive to create three chances in the third period but I wasn't overly impressed with the Couture line in this one given the situations they were put in by the coaching staff. That line started eight shifts in the St. Louis end and just one in their own zone; that should translate into something greater than breaking even in possession./