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ENLARGE
SAN JOSE — Joe Thornton sat in the locker room after the morning skate. He was left to ponder the game at hand, an evening date with a team on a roll, the Detroit Red Wings. A comfortable lead in the National Hockey League’s Western Conference had been reduced to a mere point. Included in the mix was a 6-0 thrashing the Sharks had suffered at the hand of Detroit at Joe Louis Arena on Dec.18. Although to some it might be too early to call it a “must win,” this contest had truly emerged as a “must win” for a variety of reasons.
Thornton spoke of how this would be a good test. He boldly claimed that the Sharks would have to out shoot the Red Wings to win. He asserted that the Sharks needed to play their game, to take it to Detroit physically. He firmly added, “No turnovers. We must play in their end. They have so many good offensive players. This is a game we are up for.”
In a contest for the ages, Thornton and Company took words and parlayed them into action. In the loudest and most intense game of the season, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-5 on Saturday night in a thriller. It was truly the tale of two heavyweight, top echelon teams — one the reigning Stanley Cup Champions and the other with their sights firmly set on the trophy.
Dan Boyle would get things started early at 2:59 of the first period on a tight angle shot just to the left of Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood. He would be assisted by Ryane Clowe, one of Clowe’s four assists on the night.
Said Boyle: “There are a lot of eyes on this game. This is about pride.”
For the balance of the period, the Wings and Sharks would trade goals. At 4:07, Valtteri Filppula would score for Detroit. Less than four minutes later, Joe Pavelski would give the Sharks a 2-1 lead with his 13th of the season on a delayed penalty call against the Wings.
However, it was a strong first period for San Jose. They had outhustled, out shot, and out played the Red Wings in almost every aspect of the game.
The second period saw the Wings out score San Jose, despite a 21-12 shot disadvantage. Although Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen,and Henrik Zetterberg were goal scorers for Detroit, Christian Ehrhoff and Jonathan Cheechoo both emerged from slumps to score power play goals. The game was tied a 4-4 after 40 minutes.
Perhaps it was the final moments of that second period that would pave the way for this Sharks’ win. As time expired, Thornton was checked hard into the boards. He responded with several quick punches at several Red Wings. It was the type of physical play that Thornton had spoke of hours before. If there was anyone to set the example on this night, it would be Joe Thornton.
In between periods, the team spoke of how these are the games for which they play. They called on each other to come out and win the final 20 minutes.
Win it, they did … in spectacular fashion.
A Detroit defense known for how stingy it is, gave San Jose two breakaways in the third. A little more than midway though the period, Milan Michalek chased down a clearing pass by Dan Boyle and raced in alone on Osgood. His shot snuck below where the crossbar and post meet. A perfectly placed, salvo, the Sharks had their first lead since early in the second period. A little over three minutes later, Patrick Marleau took a pinpoint pass from Ryane Clowe and again beat Osgood, this time to the left side just inside the post. The hustle, hard work, advantage in statistics, and physical play had paid off. For the first time, the Sharks held a two goal advantage, 6-4.
Brian Rafalski would score for Detroit with 1:56 left in the game. From there, Evgeni Nabokov would shut the door on the Red Wings.
Atonement. The 6-0 loss at “The Joe” was suddenly a distant memory in the rearview mirror of this NHL Campaign. The Sharks had broadened their lead over Detroit to three points with one game in-hand. They also had taken over the lead in the NHL thanks to a Boston Bruins loss earlier in the evening.
Todd McLellan has repeatedly said that this team needs to learn to win. On this night, the San Jose Sharks followed their coach’s lead. They had closed out the powerful Red Wings in the third period and wrestled a crucial 6-5 win from the Stanley Cup Champions.
Notes: The Final home date before the All-Star Break is this Tuesday vs. Vancouver … Jeremy Roenick is two weeks from returning from shoulder surgery … the Sharks were without two starting defensemen, Rob Blake (jaw) and Brad Lukowich (hernia).
Jim Adams lives in Nevada City, is a regular contributor to The Union and a broadcaster for TouchDown Productions. He may be reached via e-mail at adamses@inreach.com.
Thornton spoke of how this would be a good test. He boldly claimed that the Sharks would have to out shoot the Red Wings to win. He asserted that the Sharks needed to play their game, to take it to Detroit physically. He firmly added, “No turnovers. We must play in their end. They have so many good offensive players. This is a game we are up for.”
In a contest for the ages, Thornton and Company took words and parlayed them into action. In the loudest and most intense game of the season, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-5 on Saturday night in a thriller. It was truly the tale of two heavyweight, top echelon teams — one the reigning Stanley Cup Champions and the other with their sights firmly set on the trophy.
Dan Boyle would get things started early at 2:59 of the first period on a tight angle shot just to the left of Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood. He would be assisted by Ryane Clowe, one of Clowe’s four assists on the night.
Said Boyle: “There are a lot of eyes on this game. This is about pride.”
For the balance of the period, the Wings and Sharks would trade goals. At 4:07, Valtteri Filppula would score for Detroit. Less than four minutes later, Joe Pavelski would give the Sharks a 2-1 lead with his 13th of the season on a delayed penalty call against the Wings.
However, it was a strong first period for San Jose. They had outhustled, out shot, and out played the Red Wings in almost every aspect of the game.
The second period saw the Wings out score San Jose, despite a 21-12 shot disadvantage. Although Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen,and Henrik Zetterberg were goal scorers for Detroit, Christian Ehrhoff and Jonathan Cheechoo both emerged from slumps to score power play goals. The game was tied a 4-4 after 40 minutes.
Perhaps it was the final moments of that second period that would pave the way for this Sharks’ win. As time expired, Thornton was checked hard into the boards. He responded with several quick punches at several Red Wings. It was the type of physical play that Thornton had spoke of hours before. If there was anyone to set the example on this night, it would be Joe Thornton.
In between periods, the team spoke of how these are the games for which they play. They called on each other to come out and win the final 20 minutes.
Win it, they did … in spectacular fashion.
A Detroit defense known for how stingy it is, gave San Jose two breakaways in the third. A little more than midway though the period, Milan Michalek chased down a clearing pass by Dan Boyle and raced in alone on Osgood. His shot snuck below where the crossbar and post meet. A perfectly placed, salvo, the Sharks had their first lead since early in the second period. A little over three minutes later, Patrick Marleau took a pinpoint pass from Ryane Clowe and again beat Osgood, this time to the left side just inside the post. The hustle, hard work, advantage in statistics, and physical play had paid off. For the first time, the Sharks held a two goal advantage, 6-4.
Brian Rafalski would score for Detroit with 1:56 left in the game. From there, Evgeni Nabokov would shut the door on the Red Wings.
Atonement. The 6-0 loss at “The Joe” was suddenly a distant memory in the rearview mirror of this NHL Campaign. The Sharks had broadened their lead over Detroit to three points with one game in-hand. They also had taken over the lead in the NHL thanks to a Boston Bruins loss earlier in the evening.
Todd McLellan has repeatedly said that this team needs to learn to win. On this night, the San Jose Sharks followed their coach’s lead. They had closed out the powerful Red Wings in the third period and wrestled a crucial 6-5 win from the Stanley Cup Champions.
Notes: The Final home date before the All-Star Break is this Tuesday vs. Vancouver … Jeremy Roenick is two weeks from returning from shoulder surgery … the Sharks were without two starting defensemen, Rob Blake (jaw) and Brad Lukowich (hernia).
Jim Adams lives in Nevada City, is a regular contributor to The Union and a broadcaster for TouchDown Productions. He may be reached via e-mail at adamses@inreach.com.
