Posted: January 5, 2007
As a collective unit, the San Jose Sharks routed theDetroit Red Wings 9-4 Friday night and sealed the seasonseries-winner with an outstanding nine unansweredgoals.
The Sharks broke a franchise record with six powerplaygoals. The same squad held the previousrecord. They scored five powerplay goals at home onOct.19 against the Red Wings.
Sharks captain Patrick Marleau skated away with hisown record. Marleau surpassed former Sharks captainand fellow linemate Owen Nolan for the most franchisepoints. After his four-point performance last night,Marleau now holds the record for 493 franchise points.
Despite records being broken and victories to be won,the Sharks first period performance was a site forsore eyes, falling 3-0 in the first period.
“The reason I pulled Nabby [Evgeni Nabokov] waspsychological,” said Sharks head coach Ron Wilson.Vesa Toskala replaced Nabokov after allowing threegoals on 12 shots on net.
You could say it worked.
After the early defensive breakdown, the Sharksmanaged to fight back with nine unanswered goals.
“Mike Grier wanted the team to score a goal before theend of the period,” said Wilson.
The first goal for the Sharks came from an unexpectedindividual. Defenseman Josh Gorges netted his firstgoal of the season.
“It was long awaited,” said Gorges. “Now the team canstop harassing me about it.”
Gorges knocked in a shot pass Red Wings’ netminderDominik Hasek. The goal stood after being sent forreview of a possible high stick deflection by Sharks’forward Mike Grier.
“Mike was telling me he didn’t touch it,” said Gorges,reflecting on the goal.
However, the onslaught started in the second periodwhen Jonathan Cheechoo knocked in his 13th goal of theseason. After the Sharks patiently passed the puckaround the perimeter, Pavelski fed Cheechoo with across-ice pass that eventually lit the lamp.
Both Ryan Clowe and Grier found the back of the nettwice. Clowe’s first goal came on an open rebound that he nicely managed to tuck past Hasek. His secondof the night came in the third period after beingtripped up by a Red Wings’ defenseman. Clowe’s secondgoal marked the sixth powerplay goal on the night forthe Sharks.
Grier’s second goal was also one of significance.After demolishing Red Wings defenseman Danny Markovon a clearing attempt, Grier managed to get intoposition and knock in Marleau’s centering pass. AfterGrier’s goal, Red Wings head coach Mike Babcockfinally pulled Hasek from the net. Prior to tonight’sgame, Hasek led the league with a 1.80goals-against-average. The most Hasek has given up inone game was when he gave up four against theleague-leading Ducks of Anaheim.
Despite 15 different players putting a point on thescoreboard for the Sharks, center Joe Thornton againwas strong, picking up four assists on the night andearning him the second star of the game. Prior to thegame, the Sharks recognized Thornton as the SeagateTechnology Player of the Month.
The Sharks will continue the second of the three-gamehomestand when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets onSaturday at 7:30 p.m.
