SAN JOSE -– After being shut out 4-0 by Chad Johnson and the St. Louis Blues just eight days ago, the Sharks were looking for payback.
Boy, did they get it Saturday night.
Fueled by Erik Karlsson's first goal as a member of the Sharks, San Jose got back to its roots and put up an all-around defensive effort to pummel the Blues by a score of -– drumroll, please -– 4-0.
Here are three takeaways from the game at SAP Center:
Karlsson's big night
It took 21 games - and, as one fan on Twitter pointed out, exactly 65 days since he was acquired from Ottawa - but the two-time Norris Trophy winner finally found the back of the net.
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Of course he also did it in epic fashion, banging home a one-timer that Johnson didn't even see coming. You could see the relief on Karlsson's face as the cameras zoomed in on him after the goal.
With that elusive first marker out of the way, it doesn't hurt to wonder if that goal will open the floodgates. Karlsson's individual game has visibly improved over the Sharks' current six-game homestand, Saturday was his second consecutive game with two points, and his third n a row with at least one.
Dell was a brick wall
Aaron Dell wasn't tested as much this time around as he was against the Blues eight days ago. Nevertheless, the Sharks' backup goalie made the big saves when he needed to on his way to registering his first career win against St. Louis.
Dell was particularly impressive in the third period. He stood tall to stop Vladimir Tarasenko from putting the Blues on the board just 10 seconds into the frame, and continued to stand his ground as St. Louis built momentum and tried to pin San Jose in its own end.
Identity found?
Following the Sharks' 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, captain Joe Pavelski told the media the team wasn't playing up to its identity as a defensively sound unit. Against the Blues, the Sharks' sound defensive game was on full display.
It also didn't hurt that multiple players had multi-point games in addition to Karlsson. Pavelski himself scored two goals, giving him 13 in 21 games, good for fourth in the NHL. New linemate Logan Couture assisted on three of San Jose's four goals, including both of Pavelski's. Timo Meier also pitched in as a helper on both of Pavelski's goals.
