Another Come-Back from Under

“We can come back, but we can’t be doing that all the time…” – Patrick Marleau

By Justin Libaste 2/02/2011

Bay Area Sports Drive

Photos by Dennis DeSilva BASD
You can also visit Dennis at

www.StudioSeven.net 

A special night was in store for San Jose Sharks own Left Wing Patrick Marleau as he was honored with a ceremony before the game. He was honored for playing his 1000^th game that evening as his family came to share the moment with him.

The Sharks faced the Phoenix Coyotes as the Coyotes led the Sharks by 3 points in the Division. Center Logan Couture, was a late scratch as he battles the flu while Scott Nichol serves his last game when he was suspended 4 games for a hit on Phoenix’s own David Schlemko.

Photos by Dennis DeSilva-BASD Visit Dennis and other photos as well at www.StudioSeven.net

The official drop of the puck was 7:14 pm. Fans expected a high tempo game from the get go but unfortunately, a slow start to the period was in effect. It seemed like no intensity was coming out from both teams as shots on goal was a rarity. Half way through the period the Coyotes began to pressure the Sharks in their defensive end by shooting 3 close shots. The Sharks countered by drawing the first penalty of the night. A 2 minute penalty on Coyotes’ own captain Shane Doan holding onto Ryan Clowe. The Sharks had many chances to score the first goal as Devin Setoguchi and Joe Thornton with wide slapshots.

As the powerplay was coming to a close, the Coyotes’ Ed Jovanovski received a huge back check by Dany Heatley. Jovanovski slow to get up and as replays were being shown and his head being pushed into the wall. Heatley eventually had to serve a 2 minute penalty for boarding at the 14:33 minute mark.

For a short period of time, it was played 4-on-4 until the Coyotes had their opportunity to take the lead and respond from the big hit. Phoenix was on their first power play of the night and Shane Doan cracks a hard slap shot but Niemi with a great leg save and Kyle Curtis with a blank slap shot towards the net but an amazing glove save.

During the stoppage, starting goalie for the San Jose Sharks was awarded “Player of the Month” for January 2011 by the Sharks Foundation. Antti Niemi started ten of the Sharks 12 games on the month posting a 5-4-1 record with 1.99 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. This marks the first time Niemi has been selected with the honor.

Shortly after the break, Phoenix came out with high energy as the Coyotes score a power play goal by RW Radim Vrbata assisted by Shane Doana and Ray Whitney at the 16:11 minute mark. Phoenix now leads the Sharks 1-0 as they break the silence and gets on the scoreboard.

With the momentum going the Coyotes’ way, they score yet another goal in less than 3 minutes by Defensemen Keith Yandle’s hard slap shot. It was his 9^th goal of the season, 45^th point of the season. The goal was assisted by fellow Defensemen Derek Morris at the 18:55 minute mark. As the period came to an end, the Phoenix Coyotes clearly showed they controlled the last half of the period as they go into the 1^st intermission with a lead 2-0 over the San Jose Sharks. The shots-on-goal comparison was a land slide as the Coyotes tallied 18 shots on goal while the Sharks had only 12.

As the 2^nd period starts, the Sharks look to tie up the game or simply just get on the scoreboard. The Sharks came into the period with high hopes that they can score as Joe Pavelski shoots a circus shot on his knee. He did not score but he did get the a quality shot on goal.

Looking far from the game, it seemed like every time the Sharks would make a great push into the Coyotes’ zone, Phoenix would answer back and threaten the Sharks’ zone. Joe Thornton yet had another great chance as he had a clear path to give it a slap shot but unfortunately shot it wide right. 

Following Thornton’s slap shot, Phoenix’s LW Paul Bissonnette pushed the puck into the Sharks’ zone as the Sharks were on a line change giving the weak side an open path. Bissonnette with a hard wrist shot and scores his first goal of the year as the Coyotes lead the Sharks 3-0. The goal was assisted by Defensemen Oliver Eman-Larsson and LW Lauri Korpikoski at the 10:13 mark.

Ironically, as Niemi was awarded as player of the month of January, Todd McLellan decided to pull Niemi from the game and put in backup goaltender Alex Staloc who was called up from Worcester that day. Alex Staloc had just debuted in his first NHL game in a San Jose Sharks jersey.

The Sharks fans were displeased by their performance as no offensive pressure was nowhere to be found. They weren’t skating and rotating in their defensive zone. Sharks had another unfortunate turn as RW Jamal Mayers was penalized with a 10 minute penalty for misconduct. 

Late into the period, Sharks slowly started to respond by the boo’s and gets some offensive pressure and a perfect situation as Centermen Eric Belanger draws a 2 minute penalty for tripping towards the end of the period. Joe Pavelski responded and scored a power-play goal assisted by Dany Heatley and Dan Boyle at the 19:53 minute mark. The goal was Pavelski’s 10^th goal of the season and Sharks finally got on the scoreboard.

As the period came to a close, the Sharks still was down by 2 as Phoenix was leading 3-1 entering the 2^nd intermission.

In the beginning of the 3^rd period, the Sharks did not lose hope as Pavelski came out with a huge rebound and scores a quick goal. The goal was his 2^nd goal of the night assisted by Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Clowe at 1:24 minute mark. The Sharks were in the game and now had a great opportunity to tie the game up. The Sharks did not lose the momentum as they came with a ton of energy with great shots on goal and relentless pressure on the Coyotes.

As the puck did not leave the Phoenix’s zone, the Coyotes players looked fatigued. Sharks saw the opportunity to tie up the game and so they did with a game tying goal by Kyle Wellwood with a goal assisted by Ben Eager and Jason Demers at the 5:32 minute mark.

It was Wellwood’s first goal of the season as fans cheered, on their seats going ballistic. That did not stop the Coyotes from responding after blowing a 3-0 lead as they answered back by pushing the puck into the Sharks zone. Sharks retaliated and refused a shot on goal with a great defensive stand.

As it was mentioned in the beginning of the this story, Patrick Marleau was honored for his 1000^th game and it would be appropriately be fitting if he did have a dramatic game leading goal. And, so it did. Patrick Marleau scored on a breakaway as he had a clear path to the net assisted by Joe Pavelski at the 15:55 minute mark. The goal marks Marleau’s 19^th goal of the season. 4-3 Sharks with less than 5 minutes left into the period. Phoenix came back with constant pressure by great shot on goal chances.

The Coyotes looked to tie the game up as Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett pulled goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov at the one-minute mark. The consequences for pulling the goalie leaves the net wide opened and Joe Thornton took advantage as the Coyotes could not take a shot as Thornton scores on an open net goal at the 19:49 minute mark.

The San Jose Sharks wins a dramatic comeback to win the game with a final score of 5-3. This game meant a lot to the Sharks as they would head the road with a difficult schedule ahead of them serving a 7-game road trip; longest yet into the season.

Coming back from a 3-0 deficit has opened up many eyes in the league especially coming back to take the game winning the game without their goal scoring leader Logan Couture. With the game the next night against the rival Anaheim Ducks, this seven-road game stretch will truly test their physicality and most especially their mentality.