San Jose Sharks Earn 4-0 Shutout Win Over Kings
The San Jose Sharks defeated the L.A. Kings by the final score of 4- in a great start to the season. It was also a bit of revenge for the Sharks picking up the win during L.A.’s banner-raising ceremony, one which lasted way too long — about 30 minutes — and forced the Sharks to revisit last year’s nightmare. Perhaps they can use that as fuel for the rest of this season.
In the first period things started off as you would expect for the first season of the game, but there was definitely plenty of action. The Sharks looked the better team and after the first led in faceoff wins, shots, and on the scoreboard with a 1-0 lead.
That goal, scored by Tommy Wingels, came on a beautiful snipe from a pretty tough angle to score from. He somehow picked the top corner against Jonathan Quick though and five minutes into the game the Sharks had the lead.
Also going on midway through the first period was a fight between Mike Brown and Kyle Clifford. Clifford definitely got the better licks in but Brown had his share.
In the second period the San Jose Sharks opened things up quite a bit. First, on the power play, it was Patrick Marleau tipping it past Quick with Brent Burns firing the shot-pass right to his stick in the slot.
After killing their second penalty of the game the San Jose Sharks were starting to have trouble breaking out, but that all changed when Burns sprung Wingels for a breakaway on a great feed from his own zone. Wingels finished the play off with a nice forehand to backhand deke that took Quick completely out of the play and it was an easy backhander into the net.
But, they weren’t done yet, and just 14 seconds later the Sharks made it 4-0. Marleau was in on the forecheck on Quick who eventually misplayed the puck right to Matt Nieto at the side of the net. All Nieto had to do was bring it to the front and shoot it home while fighting off a defender.
In the third period the San Jose Sharks turned things up defensively and frustrated the L.A. offense pretty well. Their best opportunities of the night came on a last-ditch 5-3 with about a minute left to go in the game but Antti Niemi wasn’t about to let his shutout go so easily.
Overall a good night for the San Jose Sharks who were the better team on the ice all night. No doubt they will be happy with spoiling the banner-raising party for the L.A. Kings. Yes, the Sharks did have much more to prove tonight the the Kings, but it was a great win nonetheless.
The youngsters, Mirco Mueller and Chris Tierny, looked great in their debuts and we hope to see more of the same. Both drew penalties and Mueller finished with a hit and two blocked shots in 17:54 of ice time while Tierny finished with three hits and a blocked shot in 12:04.
GGS 3 Stars
1. Tommy Wingels (2 goals)
2. Brent Burns (2 assists)
3. Antti Niemi (34 saves)