Hockey fans live for Saturday nights like this one, a night where you see the hats rain down for an honest, hard working player and can't help but feel grateful for the greatest game on earth.
Personally, I was happy to see Ryan Clowe have a big night and then follow it up with a nod to his family watching back home in Newfoundland. There's a short list of NHL players to come from the rock (Darren Langdon and Michael Ryder come to mind immediately) and they're awesome people. Great move by Ron Wilson rewarding Clowe for his hard work with some quality minutes on the power play and it's always nice to see a player respond with a big game. None of Clowe's 5 goals have been pretty, but the Sharks have been missing a player who will get dirty down low and battle for loose pucks.
San Jose is rolling again, reeling off three impressive victories thanks to hard work and the league's top power play. Scoring 11 power play goals in two games is stunning and the difference is clear to see. Guys aren't trying to set up the perfect play anymore, they're just firing away and getting pucks through to the net for deflections and rebounds. Some random thoughts from a solid Saturday night:
- Ehrhoff is deadly from the point, scoring his second in two games. His shot is balanced and under control, with a nice short backswing and deadly accuracy high on the glove side. Evidently, he also knows how to throw a punch.
- Fedorov definitely suffered a broken arm on the play involving Gorges in the first period. It's too bad, because he had been playing well the last couple weeks.
- What's going to get Cheechoo going? Playing with Pavelski might do the trick, but Cheech has to start skating and getting his nose dirty at some point. Had 5 shots tonight, 4 of them wristers from 40 feet out. He's playing like a guy with a long-term contract.
- Michalek was a scratch because of a groin injury. Nothing serious, just sat out as a precation and will be back in action on Wednesday.
- Tonight's game sets up a huge matchup against Edmonton on Wednesday night. Should be a great game, with the resurgent Sharks meeting the struggling Oilers and should rekindle some of the playoff intensity we saw last spring.
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