Sharks win but Lose Dan Boyle to Injury

by Jerry Feitelberg

San Jose Sharks watch as teammate Dan Boyle is placed onto a stretcher during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, in St. Louis. Boyle suffered a head injury. The Sharks won 6-2. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

Sharks win but lose Boyle to Injury

The San Jose Sharks met the St.Louis Blues for the first time this season and came away with

a 6-2 win to remain unbeaten so far this year. The Sharks are now 6-0 while the Blues lost for the first time this year and drop to 4-1.

The Sharks’ played a very emotional game as their All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle was mugged by

the Blues Maxim Lapierre. LaPierre could see Boyle’s name and number but did not let up and

he slammed into Boyle ramming Boyle’s jaw into the top of the boards. Boyle went down and did not move. Boyle was placed on stretcher and taken to a St. Louis hospital. There were 79 minutes of penalties called in the first period. LaPierre was given two five minute majors and a game misconduct.

The league will probably have a lot to say about the hit and they will possibly suspend LaPierre for

the vicious hit on Boyle. Ryan Reaves of the Blues and Matt Pelech of the Sharks also received

game misconduct penalties and were ejected from the game.

The Sharks scored two power play goals in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Logan Couture and

Joe Pavelski scored the power play goals and Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton assisted on each goal.

The Sharks made it a 4-0 game in the second period. Tommy Wingels scored a wraparound goal with 8:34 played. Matt Nieto and Joe Pavelski picked up assists. With just 2:47 left in the period, Scott Hannan put the puck through the “five” hole with help from Joe Thornton and Brett Burns.

The Sharks scored two more goals in the third period. The Blues replaced goalie Jaroslav Halak with

backup Brian Elliott. Thornton scored the fifth goal of the night with an assist from Tomas Hertl.

St.Louis came back with two goals to make it a 5-2 game but Patrick Marleau beat Elliot for the Shark’s sixth and final goal of the night. Final score 6-2 Sharks.

Game notes- After the game, Joe Thornton had this to say about Dan Boyle. “He wasn’t saying anything and he wasn’t responding.” He also said “it was very scary.”

Logan Couture responded by saying “ it’s just disgusting to see that type of play in hockey, when a player that probably shouldn’t even be in this league is taking out one of the best players in the world.”

Sharks Coach Todd McLellan said”well, he left and went to the hospital and from what I understand he is doing OK.”

In other notes, Antti Niemi stopped 25 shots while allowing two goals. Blues’ goalie

Jaroslav Halak stopped 22 shots while giving up four goals and was replaced by Brian Elliott who was beaten twice by the sharks. Tomas Hertl leads all NHL rookies in scoring with nine points(7 goals and two assists.) The Sharks lead the league in goals scored(30) and in goal differential (plus 9)

Joe Thornton scored a goal and had three assists and Patrick Marleau also notched a goal and he had two

assists for the Sharks.

The NHL announced that Tomas Hertl was named as one of the NHL three stars for the week.

Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Avalanche Goalies Varlamov and Giguere were also named.

The Sharks recalled forward Bracken Kearns from Worcester and place Adam Burish on injured reserve.

The Sharks play The Dallas Stars Thursday night in Dallas.

Jerry Feitelberg
jyf1938