Sharks Locker Room: Criscuolo Scores 1st NHL Goal on Dad’s Birthday, Quinn on Gushchin’s Debut

So this is what it’s like to cover a winning hockey team?

The San Jose Sharks locker room, even from afar, was bursting at the seams with good vibes, after the Sharks’ 7-2 thrashing of the Arizona Coyotes.

#SJSharks vibes so good tonight…Gushchin 1st NHL goal/game, 30-year-old Criscoulo's 1st NHL goal on his dad's b-day, Gregor hat trick, 4 Karlsson points…haven't heard one peep about the Draft lottery.

So this is what it's like to cover a winning team 😄

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 2, 2023

WHAT 👏 A 👏 NIGHT 👏

✔️@_KC11_ first NHL goal
✔️ Danil Gushchin first NHL goal
✔️@n_gregs20 first NHL hat trick
✔️Nico Sturm 200th NHL game pic.twitter.com/IIav5kHQ7b

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 2, 2023

Noah Gregor talked about a joyous San Jose Sharks locker room, Kyle Criscuolo shared why today of all days was so special for his first NHL goal, Danil Gushchin talked about the coaches’ messages to him before his first NHL goal, and David Quinn discussed Gushchin’s NHL debut.

Noah Gregor, on how happy the San Jose Sharks room is:

Yeah, obviously you can tell the guys in here are pretty happy. There hasn’t been a ton of moments where we can really be happy after a game, big win like this. It feels great. A lot of first goals as well so that’s another reason to be happy. Guys always remember the first NHL goal, so it’s pretty cool to see this.

Gregor, on Gushchin:

We saw him in pre-season, he got a hat trick. He’s really good in the offensive zone. He’s really good on the power play. It was a great shot. Probably one of the nicest first goals I’ve seen.

Kyle Criscuolo, on scoring his first NHL goal:

I’ve probably watched every first goal the NHL has ever posted, just dreaming about this day. So it’s been a long journey. It’s just super-exciting. It’s also my dad’s 65th birthday, so I think I’m going to cancel his gift and just give him the puck.

Danil Gushchin, on scoring his first NHL goal with a shot like that:

It’s so exciting for me, for my family.

Before my first game in the NHL, every coach tells me to shoot the puck and it will go in, so I try my best.

David Quinn, on Gregor’s hat trick and his chemistry with Nico Sturm and Kevin Labanc:

They all give you a little bit something different.

They’ve kind of learned to start to play off each other. It takes a little time to form some chemistry and that’s what they’re doing.

Greggy has had a good stretch here over the last few months and just happy for him to get rewarded statistically.

Quinn, on Gushchin’s performance:

I’ve always liked him since the day I saw him. Plays with a good pace. It’s a big-time NHL shot that he scored his goal on. He’s around it, to make plays. He’s got poise. He’s got confidence. He’s got a little tenacity to him. I liked his game.

Special thanks to Corey Masisak for providing audio.