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The Sharks needed a better effort to climb their way into the win column, and with a number of contributors tonight they were able to put two points in the bank in a 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The story tonight was Logan Couture filling the net 0:25 seconds into the game, T.J Galiardi’s first goal of the season, Semyon Varlamov’s brilliance in net for the Avs, and Patrick Marleau’s shootout winner.
Colorado stuck around long enough to get a point out of the affair, but it would be tough to say they deserved it. The shot total was 41-27 in favor of San Jose and many of them were great scoring opportunities. This could have been that breakout game the Sharks needed to get their confidence back if not for the Avalanche’s keeper.
During the latest slide, and during the win streak to start the season one thing that has been missing from the Sharks resume has been depth scoring. Tonight T.J Galiardi broke the curse and earned a great goal midway through the second period to put the Sharks up 2-1. James Sheppard and Adam Burish assisted on the goal and it was the first time this year that the fourth line lit the lamp.
“Right as Todd said he was switching the lines and Shep was going to play with us all three of us were excited” was Galiardi’s comment in the postgame presser.
“We just kept it simple and all three of us are good cycle players. We switched sides on the cycle and I went to the net, I figured he would put it there and it worked out.”
Galiardi and Sheppard cycled the puck down low until they were able to find an opening and most importantly capitalized on their opportunity. Sheppard threw a pass across the crease and Galiardi was there to finish earning his pay in the blue paint while fighting off an Avalanche defenseman.
The power play looked like night day compared to the latest road trip, in a good way. Both units moved the puck well and created quality scoring chances on all their opportunities. It is hard to believe that they weren’t able to finish, but the Avalanche goalie was brilliant keeping his team in the game. The power play would make the Contender’s list if not for Colorado’s poor kill on the road. The Avs are last in the league on the road and strangely first at home.
“We’re getting lots of shots, we’re getting retrievals, we feel like we are wearing them down and eventually the puck will go in” was Joe Thornton’s assessment of the power play tonight.
“As long as we keep shooting, moving our feet, and doing the little things we will be good.”
The combination of Joe Thornton and Logan Couture playing together on the top line has looked like a pair that may stick together. They tried this duo last year a number of times and often it was to get other players going rather than a problem with Jumbo or Couture’s play. However, lately their chemistry together has elevated and the sky’s the limit.
It hasn’t shown on the scoreboard but they have had good chances and they have been the only line that is able to sustain any pressure in the offensive zone. Both of these players think the game as quickly as anybody in the league and the opening goal of tonight’s game was proof that these two have similar high hockey I.Q’s.
“He’s easy to read off of and I think he reads off of me pretty well” was Logan Couture’s response when I asked him about the chemistry he and Joe share.
“He sees the ice so well I just jump into holes and he finds me.”
Scoring details
1st period
SJ – 0:25 –EV – 39 L.Couture(7) – assists – 19 J.Thornton(15), 9 M.Havlat(3)
COL – 12:13 – 12 C.Kobasew(2) – assists – 8 J.Hejda(4), 58 P.Bordeleau(1)
2nd period
SJ – 2:55 –EV – 21 T.Galiardi(1) – assists – 15 J.Sheppard(2), 37 A.Burish(1)
3rd period
COL – 16:44 –EV 40 M.Oliver(2) – assists – 55 C.McLeod(2), 8 J.Hejda(5)
Overtime
No scoring
Shootout winner
SJ – 12 Patrick Marleau
Turning point
We had to wait until the shootout for the turning point in this game, which came when Patrick Marleau found a hole on Varlamov through the legs in the first round of sudden death. Marleau was the fourth shooter, and to the delight of the fans at the Shark Tank put the game on ice.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Semyon Varlamov – was peppered in between the pipes to the tune of 41 shots and stood tall stopping 39 of them. He stymied the Sharks power play with clutch saves to keep the game close, most notably in overtime in the dying seconds of a Sharks power play by robbing Joe Thornton with a fast glove hand.
T.J Galiardi – scored his first goal of the season and did it while playing on the fourth line. James Sheppard was moved to that unit after the first period and they connected in the second. They were thrown right back out onto the ice after they scored and followed up with a strong shift.
Coach Todd McLellan – makes the list for switching up his lines. James Sheppard started the game on the third unit, but was moved after the first twenty onto the fourth line. Galiardi’s first goal of the season made him look like a genius.
“That’s a big big goal for our team right now” said the coach afterwards.
“It’s been a long time coming. They did a lot of good work down low tonight. A lot of puck protection, creating scoring chances for themselves and they got rewarded for it.
“We wanted to distribute some speed and size out a little more, it was just a hunch.”
Pretenders
Martin Havlat – has been a bust through and through and tonight he had an opportunity to play on the top line with two highly motivated and skilled players. He was still was invisible. Anyone watching the game can see that there is a lack of commitment and effort in his play. Time to suck it up, Marty and make an impact on some level for this organization.
Ryan O’Byrne – had a tough night for the Avs as he was on for both goals and finished the game minus - 2.
Scott Gomez – has had the opportunity to play with two great players the last couple of games and hasn’t shown a thing. He centered Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski and they didn’t look very comfortable together at any point. He was a dismal 30% in the face-off circle which might explain why there wasn’t any chemistry. It is tough to generate momentum when you spend most of the shift chasing the puck.
The Sharks gear up for the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday which is always a great hockey game.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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