San Jose Sharks: Top 5 Biggest Goals In the 2010-11 NHL Season
The San Jose Sharks are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now.
They currently sit in third place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, just three points out of the second spot.
But it has taken a lot to get this team going. After a slow start to the season, big plays and game-winners have driven San Jose to the ranks of the elite.
It was Devin Setoguchi's Feb. 19 goal where he split the Avalanche defense, faked the forehand and went backhand top-shelf.
It was Torrey Mitchell's goal just a few nights ago against Vancouver.
And it was the multiple highlight-reel goals by rookie Logan Couture.
Game-winners and game-changers have gotten this team where they are now.
5. Joe Pavelski to Tie (12/8/10)
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It started out as a total reality check for the Sharks.
They were playing the surging Flyers in Philadelphia in a nationally televised game, and hoping for a statement win on the road.
After three straight goals by the Flyers to make it 4-1, this game looked out of reach for San Jose, which appeared lackluster for a good two-and-a-half periods.
But the game wouldn't actually get started until the 12-minute mark of the third. That was when Jason Demers' bullet made it 4-2.
Just three minutes later, Logan Couture found a way to put one in, making it 4-3. 30 seconds after that, Joe Pavelski went top-shelf on the faceoff to tie the game at 4-4.
Three goals in four minutes to force OT.
After a scoreless overtime the game went to a shootout, where Ryane Clowe's signature move was the difference, and the Sharks stole one in Philadelphia.
4. Ryane Clowe in OT (12/11/10)
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It was a game purely dominated by Sharks goalie Antti Niemi and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.
After three periods, the game was tied at one heading into overtime.
That was when Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic fed the puck across to left-winger Ryane Clowe, who delivered the knockout punch to Crawford and Chicago.
3. Patrick Marleau in OT (2/23/11)
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Another statement game for the Sharks, who were in the middle of a four-game win-streak and winners of 13 of 16.
The game was in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, who wore their powder blue uniforms. After a back-and-forth contest, we went to overtime tied 2-2.
After a stalemate OT, a shootout looked imminent.
But Patrick Marleau had other ideas.
With 15 seconds to go, the Sharks went on the attack. A shot to the net by Vlasic, a scuffle in front and a flip by Marleau for the goal—a win with four seconds left in overtime.
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2. Marleau in OT, Again (2/15/11)
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The Sharks visited the Nashville Predators in mid-February at the end of their seven-game road trip.
It was another game dominated by the goalies, as Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne held the offenses to just one goal apiece.
The game went to overtime, and with one minute to play Marleau found himself all alone on a breakaway with only Rinne standing in his way. Marleau shot to Rinne's stick-hand, and the puck trickled through for the game-winner.
A great way to end a road trip.
1. Marleau in OT...Again (3/8/11)
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It was a deja vu tale for the Nashville Predators.
After a 2-2 tie headed into overtime, Marleau again found himself on the breakaway with a chance to win it.
Marleau used his speed to get out on the break on the right side, then exploded to the net and went bar-down on Pekka Rinne with 1:30 to go.
It was Marleau's second game-winner against the Predators in less than a month.
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