Regardless of what happens in the finale, the San Jose Sharks will have very fond memories of their longest road trip of the season.
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General manager Doug Wilson says assistant coaches Steve Spott, Bob Boughner and Johan Hedberg will run the team in place of DeBoer for the game against the Penguins. Wilson did not elaborate on the reason for DeBoer’s absence. There are times when blocked shots seem like a trivial statistic, but in last night’s the matchup, the Sharks’ 22-8 advantage in the category did not go unnoticed by the Penguins.
Paul Martin’s first trip back to the Consol Energy Center since he was traded to the San Jose last offseason started with a warm welcome from Pittsburgh fans and ended with the defenseman tallying one goal, his first as a Shark, and one assist against his former team.
“You never know what it’s about until it’s done and over with”, Marleau said.
Marleau reached the milestone 7:54 into the first period, digging the puck out of the corner and feeding Joel Ward, whose shot on goal was stopped by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Marleau’s teammate Joe Thornton was selected first overall in that same draft and they are just the third set of teammates selected first and second overall to score 1,000 career points in the National Hockey League. 500 when they left San Jose and knocked off Detroit, Buffalo, Boston and Philadelphia by a goal before Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Pittsburgh. “To get a few points on the board as well feels good”. Paul Martin recorded an assist and a goal of his own in an impressive homecoming to Pittsburgh; defense partner Brent Burns scored twice in the game. He was drafted second overall in 1997 – a draft that was held in Pittsburgh, in the now-razed Civic Arena.
“You think about the players and the history of the game and to be the 83rd player to do that is something special”. The first was his 1,000th career National Hockey League point.
“It’s something I will remember always”, Marleau said in an interview in between periods. Phil Kessel was the only Penguin to find the back of the net, scoring a power play goal during the second period. “It’s more trying to get the second and third chances that are important”. He has been without center Logan Couture (fractured fibula) since mid-October. San Jose scratched RW Ben Smith, C Michael Haley and D Mirco Mueller….
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Martin Jones has been the story for at least the last couple games, following up a 34-save shutout by stopping a bucket of Penguins shots (more precisely 38 out of 39). Penguins RW Brian Rust, out since getting an undisclosed injury October 24, is skating and just began working with the puck, which coach Mike Johnston called a significant step….
