Game #10 LIVE: Period 1 Notes, Sharks Winning Even Strength Battle

11 seconds in for San Jose Sharks: Couture goal made by Evander Kane taking the puck off Hakanpaa, off Anaheim faceoff win. That’s urgency from the hop.

Bret Hedican said before the game that he thought Brent Burns had been San Jose’s most consistent defenseman this year; I agree. I don’t think he’s playing quite Norris Trophy hockey, but he’s been very good with everything falling apart around him. By the same token, I would say Couture has come through in the same way up front.

SEVEN saves by Dubnyk on that PK.

Midway through 1^st: They’re talking about Gambrell and he explodes in on forecheck, taking the puck from Kevin Shattenkirk. Nice work. He looks for real; question is, what’s the offensive ceiling?

That’s the third time in three or four games that easy pass to point has hopped over Erik Karlsson’s stick on power play. Chalk it up to bad luck, but frustrating to have 100 percent possession and have that happen again and again.

That’s a dangerous hit on Simek by Rakell. Uncalled interference.

Good job by Vlasic to attack on wraparound and by Sharks to cover for him. Boughner wants all D, not just Burns & Karlsson to think aggressively on offense.

30 seconds left, Kane bats down another pass, this time, a David Backes’s pass at the Anaheim blueline. Kane is doing a good Mark Stone impression in this period, he’s been great on forecheck, a very active stick. He’s disrupted at least 3-4 Ducks plays with his stick in this period alone, including what led to Couture goal.

Besides rough PK, San Jose Sharks have enjoyed strong period, especially at even strength. Per Natural Stat Trick, this tells the story at ES:

Good sign for San Jose Sharks: Meier and Hertl account for, per SPORTLOGiQ, all three of San Jose’s rush scoring chances. Two for Timo, one for Tommy. That’s what you want to see from Meier, especially. He and Hertl also combined for seven controlled entries, all situations, a lionshare of the 18 Sharks had in opening frame.