Sharks vs. Red Wings: By the numbers
A look at the numbers behind the Sharks' 3-2 shootout win over Detroit.
- Detroit's gameplan has always been predicated on controlling territory and manufacturing offensive-zone faceoffs, one of the many reasons they've been so successful for so long. Unsurprisingly, the Sharks took 18 draws in their own end at even-strength and just 10 in Detroit's, meaning a lot of players were buried in this game.
Joe Pavelski and the Stuart/Boyle pairing began seven more shifts in the defensive zone than the opponent's end of the rink, which helps explain those inauspicious possession numbers.
Irwin and Boyle have been fantastic together all year but, more recently, Vlasic and Braun have really emerged as one of the Sharks' more reliable two-way pairings in the time they've been together. They had a great game last night logging the heaviest minutes against Pavel Datsyuk.
Joe Thornton finally posted the kind of performance he frankly should have been turning it throughout the homestand considering the brand of minutes he was playing. Jumbo was far from sheltered last night, with Mike Babcock matching Henrik Zetterberg against him, but still finished decisively in the black in both possession and chances. The lines were jumbled by the end but he, Torres and Wingels were effective when together.
The most impressive part of Thornton's game last night is that he was on the ice for zero Red Wings scoring chances at even-strength despite taking seven defensive-zone faceoffs. /