Winning Play: Ferraro & Burns, Sharks’ Top Defensive Pair, Still Learning to Read Off Each Other

How are Brent Burns and Mario Ferraro similar?

“Burnzie’s very good at jumping the check down low. Eliminating time and space with that big stick.

“Mario is the same. Mario is quick and hard, takes your time and space down low. Real competitive.”

That’s how San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner described Burns and Ferraro’s strengths on the defensive end. Essentially, the pairing shares an effective aggressiveness down low.

I’d describe them – and I mean this in the best possible way – like putting two Dugs together on defense. No, not Doug Wilson.

Both have a fast twitch mentality when chasing the squirrel – err – puck. It can be a double-edged sword – especially together – but Boughner is counting on the 35-year-old and his sophomore partner to figure it out.

But what does figuring it out mean?