Sharks vs. Coyotes: By the numbers
A look at the numbers behind the Sharks' 3-2 shootout win over Phoenix.
- Starting with the negatives because I'm forever a cynic: not a great game by the Thornton line and, as much as I'd love to, it's difficult to entirely place the blame on Adam Burish (although he certainly wasn't good) since this group had similar results with Burns on the wing against Detroit. Todd McLellan kept Havlat/Thornton/Burish away from Vrbata/Hanzal/Doan and made sure they were the only line other than the fourth to start their shifts more frequently in the offensive zone. They still managed to produce a grand total of one scoring chance and lost the possession battle in their time together. It goes without saying that the Sharks need that line to be better given the circumstances in which they're deployed.
- If that was indeed Ryane Clowe's final game in teal, he went out with a bang. That might have been Clowe's best game since the 2010-11 season as he, Pavelski and Galiardi were far and away the Sharks' best line despite starting nearly twice as many shifts in their own end of the rink as the offensive zone. Clowe is finally making smart decisions with the puck again, especially in the defensive and neutral zones, and it paid off tonight. We'll see if it continues (or Bruins fans will, I guess).
- They gave up a goal but Marleau, Couture and Wingels played the Hanzal line to a draw in scoring chances and got the better of them in the possession battle. Another great game for Couture in particular.
- The coaching staff wasn't afraid to use the back-on-defense Burns alongside Stuart in a shutdown role, largely matching them against Vrbata/Hanzal/Doan. They were certainly passable in that role and, despite a few gaffes, I thought Burns moved the puck extremely well./