San Jose Sharks’ top line combines for 13 points in 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils
The San Jose Sharks, like many teams in the National Hockey League, are blessed with a wealth of offensive talent. They have been known to score big goals when they matter the most, and
that’s exactly what happened as they handed the visiting New Jersey Devils a 5-2 loss at the HP Pavilion on Wednesday, 27 October.
How it happened
Captain Joe Thornton led the way offensively for the home team, scoring a big five points. He got the ball rolling 9:57 into the first period with a wrist shot that found its way past
Martin Brodeur. Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, Thornton’s line-mates, earned their first assists of the night on the goal. Marleau scored a wrap-around goal at 11:16 of the first, with the assists going to Thornton and Heatley. Thornton ended the first
period with his second goal of the night at 18:59. Marleau got his third point of the night, while Jason Demers chipped in with the other assist.
Down 3-0 going into the second period, David Clarkson got New Jersey on the board with his first goal of the season at 3:06. Matt Corrente and Henrik Tallinder earned the assists on the
play. Thornton then added his third goal of the game at 16:55 to complete the hat trick. Heatley set Thornton up with a great pass that easily found the back of the net.
Heatley would then add a goal of his own to start the third period. Thornton and Marleau assisted on the goal, which came at 6:47 of the third frame. The Devils rounded out the scoring
with a goal from Andy Greene at 14:22, with the assists coming from Dainus Zubrus and Zach Parise.
What they’re saying
Thornton, one of the NHL’s best power forwards, has always been seen as more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer, but he hoped to change that this season.
“I want to score more this season,” said Thornton said of his desire to put more pucks in the net. “I just had some luck tonight.”
Finding good chemistry with your line-mates often produces good results, and that’s what happened for the trio of Marleau, Thornton, and Heatley during the game.
“With our line, we’re so big that when we move a little more, we’re more effective,” Thornton said. “We all moved a lot better tonight. We jumped on loose pucks. For all three of us, this
was nice.”
Devils’ head coach John MacLean, who was not happy after the loss, mentioned that the Devils have some serious work to do.
“We can get the puck in deep then go to work on it,” MacLean said. “I mean, that’s what San Jose did. That’s what their big line did all night. They got the pucks down low, and then they
got the goals off it.”
The Devils continue their road trip with a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, 30 October, while San Jose faces the Anaheim Ducks on the same day.
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