Tarasenko’s shootout goal fells San Jose
The Sharks embarked on a pivotal part of their schedule Friday that ties playoff hopes to whether Patrick Marleau sets a monumental NHL record in teal.
The 41yearold San Jose forward is 16 games shy of Gordie Howe’s record of 1,767 games played. At 1,751, Marleau also played his 882nd consecutive game in a 21 shootout loss to the Blues at SAP Center to remain on pace to catch Howe on April 17.
Yet there’s a catch. The trade deadline is five days earlier and if he’s dealt as he was last year to Pittsburgh for a shot at an elusive Stanley Cup, Marleau won’t break the mark with San Jose.
“It’d be great if we could get ourselves in a playoff position,” said Marleau, who likely will be off the market if San Jose is in contention. “We need to get on a roll … it would mean a lot to do it in a Sharks jersey.”
The Sharks (11134) fell nine points behind the fourthplace Blues, who broke a fivegame winless streak. St. Louis’ Tyler Bozek scored shorthanded at 6:22 of the third period after San Jose’s Ryan Donato snapped a 20game goalless drought at 15:08 of the second to account for the scoring in regulation.
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko beat Sharks goalie Martin Jones in the shootout. Only Logan Couture put a puck past St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington.
The game against the Blues was a quiet one for Marleau, who is five games shy of Mark
Messier (1,756) for No. 2 alltime. Marleau’s role has changed, however, and now he’s mainly a bottomsix forward expected to lead by example, log fewer minutes and contribute when he can.
Marleau has added only one to his career total of 519 goals, and has just five points in 28 games. Scoreless against the Blues, Marleau logged a seasonlow 9:58 of ice time, was a minus1, had two shots on goal and was 44 on faceoffs.
“It might be a little unfair to Patty, but because he’s a versatile guy he’s been shifted around the lineup,” Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said. “He has to find a way to help and contribute to the team in the bottom six. There have been many nights he has, and there have been some nights where he’s been just OK.”
Drafted second overall in 1997, Marleau was only 17 years old at the outset of the 199798 training camp, and was the league’s youngest player his rookie season 24 years ago. He has finished with doublefigure goal totals every year in the league — 22 seasons spent with the Sharks — but is well off that pace this season.
“It’s been challenging at times,” Marleau said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to do your job and try to produce as much as possible. I’m focused on getting myself in those (high) chance areas, and make sure they start going in the net.”
Boughner added, “I don’t judge him any differently than any other player. Patty’s still got good legs; he has a lot to offer and his strengths can help us.”
Boughner admits he’s anticipating a special moment in his career watching Marleau make history next month.
“That record for alltime games played, beating Gordie Howe, maybe will never be broken again,” Boughner said. “Probably not.”