The Sports Network
San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Patrick Marleau scored twice and added an
assist as the San Jose Sharks stayed perfect with a 4-0 win over the Colorado
Avalanche.
The Sharks have won all four of their games thus far and have gotten two goals
from Marleau in each of those games. San Jose is off to its best start since
going 4-0 to open the 2008-09 season.
Joe Thornton posted a goal and an assist, while Thomas Greiss made 24 saves
for his first career shutout for San Jose, which has won two on the road and
the last two at home.
Semyon Varlamov was tagged for all four goals on 26 shots for the Avalanche,
who had won their past two coming into the game. Jean-Sebastien Giguere played
the third period between the pipes and stopped all 17 shots he faced.
The game stayed scoreless until San Jose benefited from a pair of power-play
goals.
Ryan O'Byrne was handed two minors for instigating and wearing a face shield
during a fight with Brad Stuart and the San Jose power play scored just 29
seconds into the first minor. Joe Pavelski threw a shot on net from the slot
that was stopped, but Marleau was at the left side to backhand home the
rebound at the 16:09 mark of the first.
Still on the power play, the Sharks took a 2-0 lead. Dan Boyle sent a hard
pass from the top of the right circle over to his left for Thornton, who then
threw it down to the low right side where Marleau had an easy tap-in with 2:33
to play in the first.
The Sharks continued to use the power play to their advantage in the second
period as Thornton got his second of the season during a scrum in front just
2:32 into the frame.
At the 17:05 mark of the middle session, Matthew Irwin scored the first goal
of his career with a blistering slap shot from the left point that beat
Varlamov to the short side.
Greiss stopped 11 shots in the third period to finish off the shutout.
GAME NOTES:
Marleau is five goals away from 400 for his career ... San Jose has taken
three of four games from Colorado in each of the past two seasons ... San
Jose, which went 3-for-6 on the man advantage, has scored 10 times on 24
power play chances this season ... Colorado was 0-for-2 on the power play.
The Sports Network