Winning Play: Balcers Redeems Himself, Simek Goes on IR | SJHN+

Trying to prove yourself as a young player in the NHL can be tough. When you get the chance, you better shine, because you might not get another chance.

Case in point, 23-year-old Rudolfs Balcers, who made his San Jose Sharks’ debut on Feb. 6. After consecutive not particularly effective games in Anaheim and Los Angeles, Balcers sat the final tilt of the Sharks’ Southern California swing.

The clock, of course, is ticking on Balcers. San Jose claimed their 2015 fifth-round pick last month after Ottawa waived him. There are legitimate questions about his NHL viability.

So it was time for Balcers to make an impact, Sharks down 2-0 halfway into Saturday’s contest against the Golden Knights.

Whoops.

I wrote in my Game Notes: “Maybe not fair, but he’s not going to get a million chances to prove himself, he’s going to be kicking himself for not getting his shot off. Balcers has looked better today though than first 2 games.”

Good players, however, don’t just take advantage of the chances given to them – sometimes, they make something out of nothing. That’s what Balcers does here: