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 and 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, it has been the big plays and game-winners that has driven this team to the elite of the Western Conference.
It has been the Devin Setoguchi goal February 19th when he split the Avalanche defense, faked the fore-hand and went backhand top-shelf.
It was the Torrey Micthell goal just a few nights ago against Vancouver.
And it was the multiple highlight reel goals by rookie Logan Couture.
5. Joe Pavelski on 12/8/10
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, making it 4-1, this game looked out of reach for the Sharks who 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 period. That was when Jason Demers' bullet made it 4-2.
Just three minutes later, Logan Couture found a way to put one in at the 9-minute mark, making it 4-3. And just 30 seconds later, Joe Pavelski went top-shelf off the face-off to tie the game at 4-4.
Three goals in four minutes and the Sharks would force overtime.
After no goals in overtime, the game went to a shoot-out, where Ryane Clowe's signature shoot-out move was the difference, and the Sharks stole one in Philadelphia.
4. Ryane Clowe in OT on 12/11/10
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 ice to left-winger Ryane Clowe, who delivered the knock-out punch to Crawford and Chicago.
3. Patrick Marleau in OT on 2/23/11
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 were in their powder blue uniforms.
After a back-and-forth game, we went to overtime tied 2-2. And after a stalemate OT, it looked like we were going to a shoot-out.
But Patrick Marleau had other ideas.
With 15 seconds to go in OT, the Sharks went on the attack, sending shots to the net.
It would be a shot to the net by Vlasic, and after a scuffle in front, a flip by Marleau for the goal and the win with four seconds left in OT.
2. Patrick Marleau in OT against the Predators on 2/15/11
The Sharks visited the Nashville Predators to end their seven-game road trip in mid-February.
It was another game dominated by the goalies, as Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne held their opponents 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 would shoot to Rinne's stick-hand and the puck would trickle through for the game-winner and a great way to end the road trip.
1. Marleau In OT...Again on 3/8/11
It was a tale of deja vu for the Nashville Predators.
After a 2-2 tie heading into overtime, Marleau again found himself on the breakaway in overtime against the Predators 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 goalie Pekka Rinne with one minute and 30 seconds to go in OT.
It was Marleau's second game-winner against the Predators in one month.
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