The San Jose Sharks earned their first home victory of the
season Saturday night a strongly finished 3-0 performance. Things started a
little slow for the home team, but they persevered and finished with the
upper hand.
“We can play better, especially at home,” said winning netminder
Evgeni Nabokov.
The game-winner came on a classic one-timer from
Jeremy Roenick. It marked tally 498 for his career and it came on a
cross-ice pass from
Joe Thornton. Roenick almost connected for a second goal later in the
contest.
“It could have been 499,” said Roenick. “The win is more important. It was
big to win in this building.”
Roenick was switched to Thornton’s line during the contest and he logged
quite a bit of ice time. He has noted previously that he’s coming with a
smile on his face, whether he’s on the first or fourth line.
“Whether I’m playing six or 16 minutes like tonight, I want to be a big part
of this team,” said Roenick. “Absolutely (on enjoying playing on the first
line). When the opportunity is there, I want to make the best of it. It is
easy to play with Joe and Milan. He draws so much attention.”
Roenick has missed the last few practices with a sore knee, but stepped up
at game time.
“It felt good,” said Roenick of his injury. “We’ll just watch it and take
care of it.”
“Jeremy came to me at the morning skate and said he was ready,” said Wilson.
“I had two lineups ready and if a couple of guys were not ready, I was ready
to change lines.”
SHUTOUT
Evgeni Nabokov posted his first shutout of the season, stopping all 22
Nashville shots. Like Roenick, he wasn’t as concerned with individual
accomplishments.
“The most important thing is getting the win,” said Nabokov. “We worked
hard. Now we have to go on the road and dig in again. We’ve got to play and
get into it.”
A major difference in the game was San Jose scored the only goal in the
first 40 minutes via the power play and Team teal snuffed out all six
Nashville power plays.
“We did a good job,” said Nabokov. “We blocked a lot of shots and moved very
well. We got the puck out with high flips and stuff like that. Those details
were key.”
The Sharks were far from perfect on the night, but they did vastly improve
over their first two home outings. Still Wilson knows there is work to do.
“Some guys’ efforts have to improve a lot,” said Wilson. “You can’t rely on
what you did last year or two years ago. I’ll play a guy who is competing
and digging in. If you make a turnover every time you step on the ice, we
can’t afford to play (that player).”
DAVISON IN
During the preseason, Wilson experimented with
Rob Davison as a forward and he put him that role Saturday night.
“We need more sandpaper in the lineup,” said Wilson. “We’ve got a few who
have taken it out of there tool box. They don’t have to do that anymore. If
they don’t like it, they can call their congressman, file a complaint and
I’ll hear about it eventually. He adds an element we need sometimes. We have
guys who can do it, but they feel it’s below them.”
Wilson would ideally prefer he not need to shuffle lines as often as he has
been forced to do.
“We shook up the lines and some people responded really well,” said Wilson.
“If you’re a professional, you don’t need the coach spanking you, banging
you on the head, changing lines or sitting you down for good periods of the
game. I shouldn’t have to do it. At least tonight I’ll get a decent night’s
sleep tonight and six or seven guys won’t.”
INSURANCE
Sharks Captain
Patrick Marleau added the insurance tally late in the third to make the
lead two goals. It may not have been the cleanest goal every, but it counted
just as much. The puck was slowed by the defender and then bounced over and
behind Mason.
“The D got his stick on it just as I was shooting,” said Marleau. “It was
nice that it trickled over.”
It was just Marleau’s second tally in eight contests, but the opportunities
have been coming.
“The line has been getting chances,” said Marleau.
Torrey Mitchell set Marleau up with a perfect pass in the neutral zone,
marking his first assist at HP Pavilion.
“I didn’t have to break stride,” said Marleau.
NEXT GAME
Team Teal will depart for Calgary on Sunday for a Monday 6 p.m. battle with
the Flames. The contest will be available on the NHL’s Center Ice package,
98.5 KFOX and sjsharks.com