| Scott Essman. 14th March, 2008 - 12:44 pm
 At first, this story was to concern the surging Dallas Stars and their vault to the top of the NHL's Pacific Division, leapfrogging the newly resurgent Anaheim Ducks, who themselves had been rejuvenated by the return of two retired stars. Alas, while Anaheim has won seven of their last ten, Dallas has gone 5-5 and dropped to fourth in the Western Conference. Who has topped them in the Pacific? None other than the San Jose Sharks, who are riding an awesome 10-game winning streak.
In February, the Sharks began unimpressively, with a 2-5-1 stretch mid-month, including being swept in their lone NY-NJ swing. Alas, the end of the month saw them win their last four, capped by a stirring 3-2 win in Detroit. This month they have won all six games but only by a combined score of 19-11, with the last four games all being wins by one goal and the last three being tough road wins.
In fact, the Sharks have gotten fat on the road with the NHL's best record of 25-8-3 - only Detroit and Montreal are close with 22 road wins. The Sharks have also become very stingy on defense, allowing just 166 goals in 70 games. Only Detroit's unbelievable goaltending tandem has allowed fewer goals with an amazing 158, and the Sharks are tied in that department with New Jersey with their ageless goalie the mighty Martin Brodeur.
Thus, much of the Sharks' success must be attributed to their tireless 32-year-old goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, with a goals-against-average of 2.17 in 67 games started. Now in his seventh full season as the Sharks' main goalie, Nabokov has always been an excellent goaltender, but this season might be his best with by far his most minutes played and lowest GAA. Not bad for the 219th pick in the 1994 draft, taken by San Jose in the ninth round.
Other Sharks who have made key contributions include former 1st overall pick Joe Thornton. After eight somewhat disappointing seasons on the Boston Bruins - the team who drafted him in 1997 - Thornton has established himself on the Sharks. In three seasons on the Sharks, Thornton has point totals of 92, 114 and thus far 81. While not a huge goal scorer, his career season high is 37, and he has only twice scored over 30, Thornton's specialty is assists: he has 511 in his career, with 92 last season and 62 this season, to date. Clearly, the Sharks have relied on his ability to make plays, and he has answered the call.
However, it is defense that has punished Sharks' opponents much more so than the Sharks' ability to score; twenty teams are ahead of them in team goal scoring. Like the NHL's two other best teams - the Red Wings and the Devils - San Jose is winning with stellar goaltending and overall defense. Just how far into the playoffs they will play is unclear, but their current streak has the Sharks in a position to go far. Of course, with a home record of 16-13-5, home ice might not be such an advantage in the Sharks' case. |
