10/4/07 EDMONTON 3, sharks 2 SO
A year ago, after Joe Pavelski picked up the game winning goal over the Wings with just 5.6 seconds remaining at Joe Louis Arena, Joe Thornton proudly exclaimed "We don't do overtime". With just 10.6 seconds remaining last night in the Sharks season opener in Edmonton, Big Joe showed that last season was last season. A fluttering wrister by the big guy found it's way past the glove of Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson with just a few seconds remaining, giving the Sharks a point in a game they probably shouldn't have gotten that much from.
Thornton capped an active 3rd period that saw four goals scored. After two periods of tight, scoreless hockey, the 3rd really opened with a bang. Captain Patrick Marleau whacked in a one-time pass from Thornton just 26 seconds in. That lead, however, would not last as 71 seconds later, Oiler kiddie Sam Gagner threw a pass to fellow kiddie Andrew Cogliano who threw it into the crease where it found the angled skate of yet another Oiler kiddie (yes, they have a lot of them) Tom Gilbert, who directed it past Evgeni Nabokov, tying the score at 1. Just 74 seconds after that, Kyle Brodziak followed a Sheldon Souray shot to the net, poking in the rebound, giving the Oil a 2-1 lead.
OT not solving anything, the two clubs went to the shootout. Robert Nilsson potted his attempt in the second round, which was matched by Joe Pavelski directly afterwards. A great/lucky toe save by Nabokov on Marty Reasoner kept the Sharks in it, only to lose it the following round when Marleau's miss was coupled by a Jarret Stoll wrister that tipped off Nabokov's glove and into the back of the net.
Last year, there was talk that the Sharks were soft. That you could just take shots at the big name guys, and face no reprecussions. Last night, in the second period, everyone's favorite cheapshot artist, Raffi "I'm cool now because I'm bleach blond" Torres, took what attempted to be a running (well, skating) knee at Sharks speedy rookie Torrey Mitchell. Mitchell was able to avoid most of the knee, but Torres was not able to avoid the oncoming juggernaut that was Douglas Murray. See, last year, you may not have seen someone sticking up for a teammate, let alone a rookie. Hopefully last night sent a message that you won't be able to do that stuff to the Sharks and get away with it.
In no truer sense of the cliché, tomorrow is another day. Well, today is another day, and with today brings another game. Tonight, for the second year in a row, the San Jose Sharks will open GM Place with a 7:00 pm tilt with the Vancouver Luongos, er, Canucks. With Luongo in net, the Canucks will be tough, however, their offense still has question marks. Young guy Mason Raymond will line up with the Swedish Twins, a move many Canuck fans like, which can't be good news for opposing fans.
Jeremy Roenick will probably be scratched tonight for the debut of Sharks young guy Devin Setoguchi, who, if he plays, will join Milan Michalek and Torrey Mitchell for what is thought to be the fastest line in Sharks history. Hopefully we get to see it tonight, at 7.
Who needs playoff baseball? October is hockey season.
GO SHARKS (well, I like playoff baseball, but I like hockey more)
-Jess
Thornton capped an active 3rd period that saw four goals scored. After two periods of tight, scoreless hockey, the 3rd really opened with a bang. Captain Patrick Marleau whacked in a one-time pass from Thornton just 26 seconds in. That lead, however, would not last as 71 seconds later, Oiler kiddie Sam Gagner threw a pass to fellow kiddie Andrew Cogliano who threw it into the crease where it found the angled skate of yet another Oiler kiddie (yes, they have a lot of them) Tom Gilbert, who directed it past Evgeni Nabokov, tying the score at 1. Just 74 seconds after that, Kyle Brodziak followed a Sheldon Souray shot to the net, poking in the rebound, giving the Oil a 2-1 lead.
OT not solving anything, the two clubs went to the shootout. Robert Nilsson potted his attempt in the second round, which was matched by Joe Pavelski directly afterwards. A great/lucky toe save by Nabokov on Marty Reasoner kept the Sharks in it, only to lose it the following round when Marleau's miss was coupled by a Jarret Stoll wrister that tipped off Nabokov's glove and into the back of the net.
Last year, there was talk that the Sharks were soft. That you could just take shots at the big name guys, and face no reprecussions. Last night, in the second period, everyone's favorite cheapshot artist, Raffi "I'm cool now because I'm bleach blond" Torres, took what attempted to be a running (well, skating) knee at Sharks speedy rookie Torrey Mitchell. Mitchell was able to avoid most of the knee, but Torres was not able to avoid the oncoming juggernaut that was Douglas Murray. See, last year, you may not have seen someone sticking up for a teammate, let alone a rookie. Hopefully last night sent a message that you won't be able to do that stuff to the Sharks and get away with it.
In no truer sense of the cliché, tomorrow is another day. Well, today is another day, and with today brings another game. Tonight, for the second year in a row, the San Jose Sharks will open GM Place with a 7:00 pm tilt with the Vancouver Luongos, er, Canucks. With Luongo in net, the Canucks will be tough, however, their offense still has question marks. Young guy Mason Raymond will line up with the Swedish Twins, a move many Canuck fans like, which can't be good news for opposing fans.
Jeremy Roenick will probably be scratched tonight for the debut of Sharks young guy Devin Setoguchi, who, if he plays, will join Milan Michalek and Torrey Mitchell for what is thought to be the fastest line in Sharks history. Hopefully we get to see it tonight, at 7.
Who needs playoff baseball? October is hockey season.
GO SHARKS (well, I like playoff baseball, but I like hockey more)
-Jess
posted by Jess at 10:36 AM
2 Comments:
I agree - about baseball playoffs. Did you think Edmonton got an awful lot of scoring chances? Seemed like the Defense was a step slow, as witnessed by the second chance goal on the Souray shot. Nabakov played very well considering the barrage.
It did seem like the defense was delayed in getting back to cover Nabokov. Hannan was great at clearing pucks from the crease last year, hopefully that's a void to be filled soon this year.
Post a Comment
<< Home