Unlikely sources lead Sharks' rout
>> The San Jose Sharks have played with too much trepidation in recent games, understandable since their margin for victory has been so small that even minor mistakes can have disastrous consequences.
Thursday was a different story, at least in the eyes of Sharks coach David Quinn.
“I think we've been pretty passive lately, and I think that can happen when you've been losing the way we have,” Quinn said. “I think you play with a little bit of fear, and I thought we played fearless tonight. When you do that, good things happen.”
The Sharks released five weeks' worth of offensive frustration in one evening at SAP Center, scoring four second-period goals to earn a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues, improving to 3-3-0 in the last 10 days since starting the year 0-10-1.
Leading by a goal after the first period, the Sharks (3-13-1) scored three times in the first 3:25 of the second, blowing it open to enjoy a rare laugher in a season filled with adversity.
Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen made 11 saves in the first period and finished
with 45 for the game as he earned his first victory this year.
Mike Hoffman scored twice and six other players had two points each as the Sharks scored the most goals they've had in a single game since April 1 when they beat the Arizona Coyotes 7-2 at Mullett Arena in Tempe.
Now, can this carry over? The Sharks' next game is Monday against the Vancouver Canucks, who blasted San Jose 10-1 on Nov. 2.
“I sure as hell hope so,” Quinn said. “That's the plan.”
It was a particularly strong night for the Sharks' line of Ryan Carpenter,
Givani Smith, and Luke Kunin, who combined for six points.
“Just playing simple helped us out,” Smith said. “We all play a strong game, so we all know what we're going to do. Simple hockey.”
Smith's goal, his first since Jan. 19 when he was with the Florida Panthers, and his ninth in 134 career NHL games, gave the Sharks a 3-0 lead at the 2:39 mark of the second period. Just 46 seconds later, Kunin scored his fourth of the season as the Sharks took advantage of some shoddy Blues defense in front of their own net.
On Smith's goal, Carpenter won a puck battle and swung the puck to the middle of the ice, where Kunin knocked it back to Smith near the slot.
“Everyone was really excited after he scored. Maybe even after that pass. That pass was maybe even nicer,” Carpenter deadpanned.
Kunin has now scored in three straight games.
“When you put lines together, you take into consideration how all four lines look,” Quinn said. “So it paid off.”
William Eklund also scored for San Jose, which came into Thursday averaging an NHL-worst 1.31 goals per game. The Sharks had been held to one goal or less in 11 of their first 16 games, including being shut out three times.
That's led to some hardluck results for Sharks goalies Kahkonen and Mackenzie Blackwood. Kahkonen in particular has made at least 33 saves in three of his six appearances this season but received an average of 0.40 goals in support.