Winning Play: Besides “Disgusting” Goal, How Did Burns Dominate Game?

It’s not just about the goal.

About last night 🤯@Burnzie88 | #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/rarcQdMby0

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 25, 2021

And for Brent Burns, it’s not just about the offense.

Every season, it’s the same rumblings: Burns can’t play defense. The San Jose Sharks should move him back to forward.

Safe to say, the team disagrees.

“I thought he’s had a real good start to the season,” Bob Boughner said yesterday. “His defensive game doesn’t get enough credit. It really doesn’t. People talk about his defensive gaps. I think he’s playing great defensive hockey right now.”

So what are the Sharks seeing?

I re-watched all of Burns’s shifts in yesterday’s 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild to highlight the good and the bad.

Sheng: How would you assess your season so far?

Burns: I don't really assess it. Don't you do that, Sheng?

SP: Yes, I do actually.

BB: There you go.

SP: I did think you had a really good game tonight!

🤣 Damn, missed my chance to plug @sjhockeynow on the air

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 25, 2021

My conclusion: Burns was a high-impact defenseman last night. And there’s no reason whatsoever to move him up front if he can keep it up.