Three Down, Three Up

After a 4-2 victory at Columbus tonight, the Sharks have now won three in a row after dropping the first three games of their eight-game road trip. I missed the first period of tonight's game, but tuned in just in time to see the Sharks falter (giving up a goal to David Vyborny and falling behind 2-1) then slowly take control of the game. By the middle of the third, San Jose was dominating the play, completely stifling the Columbus attack while generating fourteen shots of their own.

I certainly liked what I saw from new Shark Brian Campbell tonight. He chalked up an assist, was on the ice for one of the two San Jose power-play goals, moved the puck crisply out of the defensive zone in transition, and--best of all--came up with a huge open-ice hit in the third period. Campbell has played his entire NHL career prior to today in Buffalo, a terrific hockey town, and from press reports it is clear that although he suspected it was coming, the trade hit him hard. One always wonders how a reluctantly traded player will respond (Peter Forsberg, for instance, clearly never felt at home in a Nashville Predators uniform last year). The big hit suggests to me that Campbell, even though he was understandably sad to leave Buffalo, has brought all of his intensity to San Jose. That's good news.


Bernier the Sabre

In related news, Steve Bernier scored two goals tonight in the first period of his first game as a Buffalo Sabre. I mention this not only because I wish Bernier the best and hope the change of scenery will continue to do him good, but also because he helped do his old team a favor--Buffalo's 8-4 victory tonight came at the expense of Nashville, a team that is in competition with San Jose for Western Conference playoff position.

Wings on Leap Day.