San Jose, Ca. - Matt Nieto struck for the Sharks with :11.5 remaining on the clock to put San Jose ahead 2-1 of the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night.
After a turnover in some confusion in the neutral zone with time running out, Nieto kicked the puck to Patrick Marleau, who came open to the left side, received the pass, and charged for Steve Mason alone.
His shot was pushed wide by the goalie, however, who fell to his back on the save attempt after some bouncing around in the crease.
Both sides thought an overtime period was imminent.
In that time, though, Marleau's shot came loose and into the path of Nieto, who had skated up the ice to assist a second earlier.
He found the puck all alone, slicing the back-hander easily past Mason's right as he was still on his back and with Flyers all around him sprawled on the ice.
Mason held his right glove out in earnest.
And in vain.
The improvised game-winner was Nieto's 3rd goal this season and his first to win a contest on the year.
"My linemates did a good job creating havoc in front of the net," Nieto said afterwards. "Luckily, the puck popped out to me and I had an empty net."
And in a heartbeat, the Flyers suffer their 5th-straight losing hockey game on the road, falling to 2-9-1 away from South Philly.
That, with three more on the road coming, against the Kings and Ducks before meeting Columbus.
The first fifty-nine minutes and forty-eight seconds of the night, however, gave the Flyers (8-13-4) hope that their road campaign would be resurrected.
Philadelphia took possession of the first period, dominating their hosts and keeping the puck consistently on the attack.
They outshot San Jose 16-6 in the first twenty minutes, culminated in a power-play strike from Sean Couturier for the center's 5th goal on the year.
Couturier cashed in through a screen of defenders after taking a pass from Andrew Macdonald in traffic for his first goal in 11 games.
Antti Niemi stopped 15 of those first 16 shots against him, though would stop the next 13 in succession as the Sharks regained momentum into the middle frame.
Niemi finished saving 28-of-29 for the Sharks and Mason stopped 25-of-27.
San Jose returned the shooting favor to the Flyers, outshooting them 13-6 in the second.
Marc-Edouard Velsic would finally light the lamp for the Sharks at 17:44 for his 3rd score this season.
The defenseman received a pass from Tommy Wengels after Logan Couture took possession after a turnover in the neutral zone. Couture skated along the boards and darted a pass across to Wengels.
Vlasic came open in stride to the right of the net, took a pass into the slot from Wengels, and went top shelf on Mason to tie the game 1-1.
It was a second period that was dominated by the Sharks as the Flyers had the first.
San Jose took the man-advantage at 1:57, putting their 4th-best power-play unit against the Flyers' second-worst penalty-killers.
They would end the night 0-for-1 with an extra man, though not without putting a few scares into Steve Mason along the way.
Brent Burns shot quick from the left circle off a cross-ice pass before the chance was pushed aside, and his pass seconds later inside to Joe Pavelski outside the crease was gloved by the goalie.
There was a scramble in the crease with seconds left in the advantage that fuond almost every man on the ice within two feet of the goal, though Mason persevered, pushing the puck free from the pack in the confusion.
The third period was even between the two sides, with the Sharks outshooting the Flyers 8-7 as each team fought for what they believed would be the game-winning goal.
Andrew Desjardins ventured a 1-on-1 against Steve Mason seven minutes into the final session after a turnover, but the backhander slipped from his grasp and petered to the right as he collided with the goalie.
Wayne Simmonds almost fired a slap shot to Niemi's right at 5:17 in the third before being gloved in the corner of the crease.
Tomas Hurtl would venture two back-handers in as many seconds with 5 minutes left, the first bouncing off the Mason's pad and the second floating wide left of the net.
Wayne Simmonds took that loose puck and went the other way for Philly on a lingering chance to the left of Antti Niemi that would also end up wide.
Tommy Wengels fired a one-timer to Mason that went high and wide from the right with three minutes left.
But it would be the 22-year-old Nieto who stole the decision for the Sharks, who host the Boston Bruins on Dec. 4th.
San Jose is 13-1-2 in their last 16 contests against the Flyers.
Sharks center Logan Couture went to the team's dressing room as the third period began after being on the wrong end of a collision with Philly's Michael Raffl in the circle in the Sharks zone.
Couture's two goals lifted the Sharks to a 6-4 victory over Anaheim three nights ago.
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Sharks tie Flyers 1-1 late after two periods
San Jose, Ca. - Marc Edouard Vlasic lit the lamp for the Sharks as they draw even with the Philadelphia Flyers 1-1 after two periods Tuesday night.
After a flurry of passes in the neutral zone following a turnover, Logan Couture came streaking down the right boards with a purpose.
He darted a pass across to Tommy Wengels who came open near the net for a chance, but instead passed quick to his left, where Vlasic was in stride for the top-shelf strike over Steve Mason's right shoulder, his 3rd goal this season.
Steve Mason never saw it coming.
San Jose nearly took a 2-1 lead into the break were it not for a failed power-play chance earlier in the middle frame.
Niklas Frossman was booked two minutes for tripping Tomas Hertl early on, at 1:57, putting the Sharks' 4th-best power-play against the Flyers' second-worst penalty kill unit.
Those numbers showed early and late, as Philadelphia struggled keeping Steve Mason free from the home side's charge.
Brent Burns shot quick from the left circle off a cross-ice pass before the chance was pushed aside, and his pass seconds later inside to Joe Pavelski outside the crease was gloved by the goalie.
There was a scramble in the crease with seconds left in the advantage that found almost every man on the ice within two feet of the goal, though Mason persevered, pushing the puck free from the pack in the confusion.
That puck found Grossman, just free from the penalty box, breaking away from the scrum easily as the power-play ended and charged the Sharks net alone, but Niemi would secure the save after stretching out to reach the chance.
Matt Nieto faced Mason alone on a charge at the 15-minute mark when the puck slipped from some poor Flyers passing in the neutral zone, but his shot from very close range was pushed aside left.
Steve Mason stopped 18-of-19 for Philadelphia after a sleepy 6-shot first period.
Philadelphia played 5-on-4 hockey after Matt Read was interefered by Justin Braun at 9:50.
Captain Claude Giroux struck early, firing in front of Antti Niemi 15 seconds into the advantage, but was pushed wide. Giroux tried again with 1:10 left after taking a pass across from Brayden Schenn, but Niemi was there with the kick-save as the puck trailed back down the ice.
Antti Niemi saved 21-of-22 shots for the Sharks (11-10-4).
Tommy Wingels almost broke away at the 7-minute mark when he trailed down the right side, but Nick Shultz kept the center from the Philly net, putting his stick on the chance.
Sean Couturier opened scoring in the first period with a power-play goal for the Flyers, his 5th goal on the season and his first in 11 games for the team.
Philadelphia (8-12-3) last won on the road at Pittsburgh on Oct. 22nd and are suffering a 7-game losing streak.
After a flurry of passes in the neutral zone following a turnover, Logan Couture came streaking down the right boards with a purpose.
He darted a pass across to Tommy Wengels who came open near the net for a chance, but instead passed quick to his left, where Vlasic was in stride for the top-shelf strike over Steve Mason's right shoulder, his 3rd goal this season.
Steve Mason never saw it coming.
San Jose nearly took a 2-1 lead into the break were it not for a failed power-play chance earlier in the middle frame.
Niklas Frossman was booked two minutes for tripping Tomas Hertl early on, at 1:57, putting the Sharks' 4th-best power-play against the Flyers' second-worst penalty kill unit.
Those numbers showed early and late, as Philadelphia struggled keeping Steve Mason free from the home side's charge.
Brent Burns shot quick from the left circle off a cross-ice pass before the chance was pushed aside, and his pass seconds later inside to Joe Pavelski outside the crease was gloved by the goalie.
There was a scramble in the crease with seconds left in the advantage that found almost every man on the ice within two feet of the goal, though Mason persevered, pushing the puck free from the pack in the confusion.
That puck found Grossman, just free from the penalty box, breaking away from the scrum easily as the power-play ended and charged the Sharks net alone, but Niemi would secure the save after stretching out to reach the chance.
Matt Nieto faced Mason alone on a charge at the 15-minute mark when the puck slipped from some poor Flyers passing in the neutral zone, but his shot from very close range was pushed aside left.
Steve Mason stopped 18-of-19 for Philadelphia after a sleepy 6-shot first period.
Philadelphia played 5-on-4 hockey after Matt Read was interefered by Justin Braun at 9:50.
Captain Claude Giroux struck early, firing in front of Antti Niemi 15 seconds into the advantage, but was pushed wide. Giroux tried again with 1:10 left after taking a pass across from Brayden Schenn, but Niemi was there with the kick-save as the puck trailed back down the ice.
Antti Niemi saved 21-of-22 shots for the Sharks (11-10-4).
Tommy Wingels almost broke away at the 7-minute mark when he trailed down the right side, but Nick Shultz kept the center from the Philly net, putting his stick on the chance.
Sean Couturier opened scoring in the first period with a power-play goal for the Flyers, his 5th goal on the season and his first in 11 games for the team.
Philadelphia (8-12-3) last won on the road at Pittsburgh on Oct. 22nd and are suffering a 7-game losing streak.
Flyers leading Sharks 1-0 after first period
San Jose, Ca. - Sean Couturier struck first as the Philadelphia Flyers lead the San Jose Sharks 1-0 after an inspired first period from the visitors Tuesday night.
The center fired to Antti Niemi's right side with 42 seconds left on the power-play, firing a pass from Andrew Macdonald from close range. The goal was Couturier's 5th this season and his first in 11 games.
Philadelphia earned the man advantage when San Jose's James Sheppard was booked two minutes for interfering with Scott Laughton at 4:18.
Giroux passed to Simmonds near the crease seconds earlier, but the forward's chance went wide. San Jose cleared the puck seconds later before Jakub VOracek brought it back into the Sharks zone and tried again, also wide.
Logan Couture and Tommy Wingels had a 2-on-1 shorthanded chance on Steve Mason when the puck slipped from Flyers' possession, but Couture's back-hander ended up in Mason's glove.
Mason was largely unmolested in the first session, stopping 6-of-6 shots.
Matt Reid tried a one-timer for the Flyers at 12:30 when he came open to the front of the goal, but his quick shot was batted away by Niemi.
Wayne Simmonds tried again from the right side halfway through the session, taking a pass from Brayden Schenn in a sudden 3-on-2, but was gloved.
Niemi was busy in net for the Sharks, stopping 15-of-16 for San Jose.
Couturier and Brenden Dillon fought at 14:58. Dillon landed three punches on Couturier's head early, but the Flyers center responded with two of his own until officials broke them up. Both sat for five minutes.
Philadelphia (8-12-3) is in the midst of a 7 game losing streak, including two straight defeats in as many days to the New York Rangers.
San Jose (11-10-4) is hosting the fifth of a six-game home stand (1-4), their sole victory a 6-4 decision to Anaheim three days ago.
Vincent Lecavalier was listed out by the Flyers as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.
The center fired to Antti Niemi's right side with 42 seconds left on the power-play, firing a pass from Andrew Macdonald from close range. The goal was Couturier's 5th this season and his first in 11 games.
Philadelphia earned the man advantage when San Jose's James Sheppard was booked two minutes for interfering with Scott Laughton at 4:18.
Giroux passed to Simmonds near the crease seconds earlier, but the forward's chance went wide. San Jose cleared the puck seconds later before Jakub VOracek brought it back into the Sharks zone and tried again, also wide.
Logan Couture and Tommy Wingels had a 2-on-1 shorthanded chance on Steve Mason when the puck slipped from Flyers' possession, but Couture's back-hander ended up in Mason's glove.
Mason was largely unmolested in the first session, stopping 6-of-6 shots.
Matt Reid tried a one-timer for the Flyers at 12:30 when he came open to the front of the goal, but his quick shot was batted away by Niemi.
Wayne Simmonds tried again from the right side halfway through the session, taking a pass from Brayden Schenn in a sudden 3-on-2, but was gloved.
Niemi was busy in net for the Sharks, stopping 15-of-16 for San Jose.
Couturier and Brenden Dillon fought at 14:58. Dillon landed three punches on Couturier's head early, but the Flyers center responded with two of his own until officials broke them up. Both sat for five minutes.
Philadelphia (8-12-3) is in the midst of a 7 game losing streak, including two straight defeats in as many days to the New York Rangers.
San Jose (11-10-4) is hosting the fifth of a six-game home stand (1-4), their sole victory a 6-4 decision to Anaheim three days ago.
Vincent Lecavalier was listed out by the Flyers as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.
Flyers-Sharks preview
San Jose, Ca. - Broad Street is yet to produce a single bully this season as the Flyers seek to improve their 2-8-1 away record in San Jose Tuesday night.
They will play the second of a five-game road trip on which they are already a quick 0-1, and are winless in their last seven road outings.
Philadelphia (8-12-3, 19 pts) suffered a 5-2 decision to their arch-rival New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Saturday after being shutout 3-0 by them at home the day before.
Cam Talbot stopped 57-of-57 shots fired against him in two games against the Flyers this year. Henrik Lundqvist stopped another 21-of-23 two days ago.
Rendering the Flyers 2-of-80 against the Rangers' goal this season.
They are currently on a 4-game losing streak overall, ending November 1-7-1, being outscored 15-4 in that stretch, a 4-3 victory over lowly Columbus their only positive mark.
"It's mental," head coach Craig Berube said this week. "Every guy has to man up and do their job. My job is to get these guys going in the right direction."
Puck control has been an area of concern for the Flyers, who in their Nov. 28th defeat to New York allowed a game-winning goal from the visitors after a costly turnover deep in their own zone.
Every Ranger touched the puck on the play after a turnover in the corner boards, taking a 3-on-1 rush to Steve Mason, who suffered the go-ahead shot to his right side.
"We don't skate," Jakub Voracek said. "We are slower everywhere. That's the problem."
The right-winger is one of few bright spots for the Flyers. His 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) rank second in the game behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, with whom he has enjoyed the points-lead for much of the season.
"There's only one way to figure it out, and that's together," forward Wayne Simmonds said this week. "If you start abandoning guys now and don't have everyone supportive, then it's going to keep going the wrong way."
A wrong way that includes the second-worst penalty kill in hockey (73.8 pct). During their sour November campaign, the Flyers have stopped only 65.7 percent of shots a man down, a number that falls to 62.2 percent on the road.
Which may spell trouble against the Sharks' 4th-best power play (23.8 pct).
San Jose (11-10-4, 26 pts) defeated Anaheim 6-4 three nights ago after suffering their own four-game losing streak. Logan Couture notched two goals after waking up that morning in the hospital with an illness.
"We needed it," Couture said afterwards. He notched a shorthanded goal on a breakaway and his 10 goals this year shares the team's best scoring mark. The center has also secured five straight contests with a point earned.
And has scored 3 goals in the Sharks' last two meetings with Philadelphia.
"We haven't been scoring as many goals, so it was good to find some way to score."
They jumped out to a 5-1 second period lead before allowing three consecutive goals.
Joe Thornton leads the team with 21 points in 25 games, (7 goals, 14 assists) and recorded an assist on Joe Pavelski's power-play goal in victory over the Ducks.
And he is enjoying a 12-game points streak against the Flyers with 17 points in that time.
But San Jose has gone only 2-5-2 in their last 7 outings, during which they scored 14 goals.
"We've got to put something together," Couture said after their win Saturday. "It's one game, we've played one game well before, then played five [bad] ones, so we've got to figure it out and put some good games together."
Flyers starting goalie Steve Mason is winless in his last four starts, and Ray Emery in relief has been downed in his last three appearances, with a 4.35 goals-against average.
San Jose is 9-2-2 this season when scoring first.
They will play the second of a five-game road trip on which they are already a quick 0-1, and are winless in their last seven road outings.
Philadelphia (8-12-3, 19 pts) suffered a 5-2 decision to their arch-rival New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Saturday after being shutout 3-0 by them at home the day before.
Cam Talbot stopped 57-of-57 shots fired against him in two games against the Flyers this year. Henrik Lundqvist stopped another 21-of-23 two days ago.
Rendering the Flyers 2-of-80 against the Rangers' goal this season.
They are currently on a 4-game losing streak overall, ending November 1-7-1, being outscored 15-4 in that stretch, a 4-3 victory over lowly Columbus their only positive mark.
"It's mental," head coach Craig Berube said this week. "Every guy has to man up and do their job. My job is to get these guys going in the right direction."
Puck control has been an area of concern for the Flyers, who in their Nov. 28th defeat to New York allowed a game-winning goal from the visitors after a costly turnover deep in their own zone.
Every Ranger touched the puck on the play after a turnover in the corner boards, taking a 3-on-1 rush to Steve Mason, who suffered the go-ahead shot to his right side.
"We don't skate," Jakub Voracek said. "We are slower everywhere. That's the problem."
The right-winger is one of few bright spots for the Flyers. His 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) rank second in the game behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, with whom he has enjoyed the points-lead for much of the season.
"There's only one way to figure it out, and that's together," forward Wayne Simmonds said this week. "If you start abandoning guys now and don't have everyone supportive, then it's going to keep going the wrong way."
A wrong way that includes the second-worst penalty kill in hockey (73.8 pct). During their sour November campaign, the Flyers have stopped only 65.7 percent of shots a man down, a number that falls to 62.2 percent on the road.
Which may spell trouble against the Sharks' 4th-best power play (23.8 pct).
San Jose (11-10-4, 26 pts) defeated Anaheim 6-4 three nights ago after suffering their own four-game losing streak. Logan Couture notched two goals after waking up that morning in the hospital with an illness.
"We needed it," Couture said afterwards. He notched a shorthanded goal on a breakaway and his 10 goals this year shares the team's best scoring mark. The center has also secured five straight contests with a point earned.
And has scored 3 goals in the Sharks' last two meetings with Philadelphia.
"We haven't been scoring as many goals, so it was good to find some way to score."
They jumped out to a 5-1 second period lead before allowing three consecutive goals.
Joe Thornton leads the team with 21 points in 25 games, (7 goals, 14 assists) and recorded an assist on Joe Pavelski's power-play goal in victory over the Ducks.
And he is enjoying a 12-game points streak against the Flyers with 17 points in that time.
But San Jose has gone only 2-5-2 in their last 7 outings, during which they scored 14 goals.
"We've got to put something together," Couture said after their win Saturday. "It's one game, we've played one game well before, then played five [bad] ones, so we've got to figure it out and put some good games together."
Flyers starting goalie Steve Mason is winless in his last four starts, and Ray Emery in relief has been downed in his last three appearances, with a 4.35 goals-against average.
San Jose is 9-2-2 this season when scoring first.
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