Patrick Marleau’s return party to San Jose was nearly perfect. The Sharks performed better than they had up to this point and for the entire game.
The Sharks’ top line got on the board in the first five minutes to set the tone for the rest of the game. Altogether, the top-six forwards had eight of the Sharks’ 20 shots on goal.
The Timo Meier-Logan Couture-Patrick Marleau trio contributed four points, including a shorthanded goal. Couture had two assists to bring his season total to five.
Tomas Hertl recorded the shorthanded goal late in the second period after Couture made a smart stick block at the blue line.