Sharks clinch playoff berth

Sharks' center Curtis Brown congratulates goaltender
Evgeni Nabokov after their 4-3 win over the Wild (John Remus III)

Torrey Mitchell accidentally collides with Kurtis Foster
after trying to beat out an icing call (John Remus III)

Sharks victorious behind the efforts of Roenick and Brown
By Steven Kennedy

The San Jose Sharks again found a way to do what seemed so impossible for them in the first half of the season and that was to win in the shootout. Lead by veteran forwards Curtis Brown and Jeremy Roenick, the Sharks edged out the Minnesota Wild 4-3 and clinched a playoff berth.

Brown appeared in his first game after sitting out most of the season with a hand injury.

Last night’s victory keeps the Sharks closely behind Detroit Red Wing’s rearview mirror, who are five points ahead in the standing. The Sharks are also five points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks who edged out the Dallas Stars 2-1 last night.

Roenick had a two-point performance including the shootout goal that won the game. Roenick’s goal in regulation came on an stunning 3-on-1 play that saw captain Patrick Marleau and Brown play a quick game of catch in the slot, before Marleau slid it across the crease to Roenick for a one timer that found its way to the net. That forward line consisted of all centers.

“Both JR and Brown had great nights,” head coach Ron Wilson said. “Roenick was a plus three and Brown was a plus two. Curtis was full of energy and yapping away on the bench, he played great for us.”

The second period saw Brown and Roenick figure in on the scoring again, when Roenick hit Brown streaking down the middle of the ice. Brown let a hard backhand go that found its way past Wild goaltender Nicklas Backstrom.

“It was great to have Brownie back,” Roenick said. “He’s a quality guy and always gives it his all and it’s great to see him do well.”

“I had been out for awhile and it was great to get back into the lineup and help out the team,” Brown said.
It was not an easy win for the Sharks, however. Minnesota capitalized on two powerplay opportunities, both goals coming from their captain Marian Gaborik. His second goal of the night sent the game into overtime with only :28 seconds left.

The unnerving moment of the game came at 5:18 of the second period when Torrey Mitchell and Kurtis Foster both collided and went hard into the boards with Foster at an angle where he could not protect himself.
“I would never want to hurt anyone like that,” Mitchell said. “We both got tangled up and went into the boards. I’m hoping that he is okay.”

“You don’t ever want to see that in a game,” Wilson said, “it doesn’t matter the amount of times a play happens where someone beats out the icing call. It’s just not worth it, especially when someone gets injured like that.”
This once again brings up the question of whether or not the NHL should change the ruling on touch-up icing, switching to the format in which a whistle is automatically blown upon the occurrence of an icing call, thereby avoiding needless injuries.

Once the game was over, it was announced that Foster had a displaced fracture on his left femur. He will undergo surgery Wednesday.

The Sharks will host the Anaheim Ducks on Friday at 7:30 p.m.