Labanc making case to stick around
Rookie scores goal, adds assist in Sharks’ overtime victory
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Kevin Labanc earned improved his chances of sticking with the Sharks on Sunday night.
Labanc, a 20-year-old, Brooklyn, New York, native, scored a goal and was credited with an assist as the Sharks came back to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime. Afterward, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said that Labanc earned a least one more game, and possibly, more as the Sharks finalize their roster.
“He’s pushing for a job,” said DeBoer. “He’s a hard guy to send down. He’s finding a way to get to the net and score. I liked his game. He’s having an excellent camp.”
Matt Nieto’s second goal of the game, with 39.6 seconds left in overtime, gave the Sharks the victory, and Martin Jones was also stellar, making 26 saves in his first game since last spring’s Stanley Cup finals. But Labanc did the dirty work beforehand, scoring the goal that forced overtime and helping to set up Nieto’s regulation score.
The Sharks (3-0-0) remained unbeaten in the exhibition season. All of the wins have been by a 32 score in overtime. Meanwhile, the Canucks (1-1-2) suffered their second loss in three exhibition outings.
Labanc created a 2-2 tie on a power play with 1:07 left in the second period. The rookie forward crashed the net and put in his own rebound. Vancouver defenseman Alex Biega was serving a delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass.
Nieto drew the Sharks even midway through the first period as he bunted home the puck after Julius Bergman’s point shot caromed off Chris Tierney, who did not get a point on the play. Labanc, who passed the puck to Bergman before he shot, was credited with an assist although he was the third helping hand.
“It was a good shot by Bergman and then it went off somebody, and Nieto tapped it home,” said Labanc.
Labanc is trying to crack the Sharks roster after spending most of last season with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League and also playing one AHL playoff game with the Barracuda. He hopes earn a chance to stay in the NHL full time or at least be considered as a call-up from the AHL.
“That’s the mindset,” said Labanc. “You come here wanting to play and you come here wanting to make the team. If you have another mentality other than that, I don’t even think you should be here.”
He logged 14:53 minutes of ice time while seeing power-play time and also killing penalties. Although the points might have helped his cause, he downplayed them, contending the win in a meaningless exhibition game. His personal goals are simple and direct.
“Just play the way (DeBoer) wants me to play and make myself look good,” said Labanc, who finished minusone on the night. “Just be a simple, hard-working player and, if I have a chance — it doesn’t matter, blocking a shot or whatever the case may be — just be a good twoway guy and make a good showing for myself.”
Jones got off to a rough start as Tuomo Ruutu beat him for a short-handed goal on Vancouver’s first shot 3:44 into the game.
“It takes a little bit (of time) to get into it and just coming back into some of the reads,” said Jones. “I probably got better as the game went on.”