Sheng Peng
DETROIT – David Quinn wanted consistent second and third efforts from the San Jose Sharks after a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of great effort out there but everybody gives effort. You got to give a second and third effort,” he said.
He got it, especially on Tomas Hertl’s two 6-on-5 goals that tied the game late on Tuesday against the New York Islanders.
“Those guys did a hell of a job on the 6-on-5,” he said. “Both times, the puck retrievals, the staying with it, not getting cute.”
Hertl, William Eklund, Alexander Barabanov, Fabian Zetterlund, Anthony Duclair, and Fabian Zetterlund were on the ice for both 6-on-5 goals, with 3:11 and 1:30 left.
Those second and third efforts from Eklund and Zetterlund, in particular, led to the near-minute of possession that resulted in the game-tying goal.
It’s a small play, a retrieval from Eklund (72), well before the goal, but it keeps the puck in San Jose Sharks’ possession. I like the alertness, he’s quick on the puck, and the shoulder check when he knows he’s going to win it, seeing where Hertl (48) is. Knowing where your teammate is helps you make the next play faster, which gives your teammate more time to make his next play.
“Just an incredible play by Eklund,” Quinn said.
And he wasn’t talking about the pass to Hertl for the goal. He was talking about the small but important plays that lead to goals.
“[Islanders] had a chance to clear it,” he said. After Ilya Sorokin stopped a terrific Duclair-to-Barabanov connection, Scott Mayfield (24) had the puck on his forehand for the clear.
But look at Eklund pursue Mayfield with abandon, even though he started well behind the Islanders defenseman.
“Eklund does a great job, they were tired, does a great job getting a stick on it,” Quinn said.
While Mayfield is able to attempt a clear, Eklund’s pressure and outstretched stick clearly hurry him.
Zetterlund (20) is waiting along the wall, and he’s able to power the puck through Simon Holmstrom (10). Eklund helps, batting it back to Barabanov in the corner.
Here’s where all the second and third efforts pay off for the spectacular.
“Eky called me,” Barabanov said.
Well, maybe more than called.
“I was screaming [at] him a little bit,” Eklund shared.
“A hell of a play by Barabanov,” Quinn said, “make that backhand pass to Eky.”
Barabanov was well aware of Mayfield and Bo Horvat (14) converging on him, and Eklund behind him, with or without the screaming. He sold a play on his forehand, toward the net, and three Islanders, including Alexander Romanov (28), bit: “It’s just the game. Try to [draw in] two guys, create space for your partner.”
“He’s an unbelievable passer,” Eklund said. “I know he’s gonna make those plays.”
Then Eklund took over, selling shot.
“Just trying to freeze the goalie there,” he said.
Romanov bites too, reaching out to perhaps deflect a shot attempt. But that opens the defender up and Eklund fires a hard pass under him.
“Tomas was on the back so I’m trying to find him,” he said. “Just happy it went in.”
Eklund would cap off the comeback with the first OT winner of his career, giving the Sharks, down three goals, the thrilling 5-4 decision.
“I was just exhausted,” he said with a smile about his game-winner.
That’s the cost of winning though, right? What the second and third efforts lead to.
The 21-year-old winger, the future of the San Jose Sharks, is clearly learning that.