Sharks Lose Home Opener To Thrashers 4-2

The Sharks couldn't get it done in their home opener after splitting two games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Sweden to start the season. After being up 2-0 in the first, they gave up four unanswered goals and couldn't recover, giving the Thrashers their first win in San Jose.

Dany Heatley got things started for San Jose at the 15:20 mark of the first period, knocking in the rebound of a Patrick Marleau shot from the left circle. Twenty-one seconds later, Ryane Clowe added a goal during four-on-four play when he directed the puck into the back of the net off of a Torrey Mitchell shot.

Antti Niemi gave up four goals, stopping 24-of-28 shots in the 4-2 loss to Atlanta. Two goals came in the second to tie it when Andrew Ladd put the puck in at the 1:23 mark after a Niemi save went off the skate of Dan Boyle. Anthony Stewart's tying goal in the second came at the 13:58 mark from the top of the right circle and it was something that Niemi should have been able to get down. Stewart came into this game off of his first career hat trick.

Dustin Byfuglien gave the Thrashers the lead with 6:20 remaining in the game on a power play goal, a wrister from the slot off a rebound. Evander Kane provided the insurance goal to put the Thrashers up 4-2, and the Sharks would not get on the board after the first period.

Heatley's first period goal was the 300th of his career. Some questioned the reasoning behind Antti Niemi being in goal instead of Antero Niittymaki, somewhat famous for his ability to make the Thrashers look silly on a regular basis. The goalie situation remains a question mark in San Jose, but it's far too early to be throwing anybody under any buses.

In Progress: Sharks Give Up Two, Game Tied 2-2 Going Into Third

After jumping ahead in the first with goals from Dany Heatley and Ryane Clowe, San Jose allowed two goals in the second. Antti Niemi was the victim on the first goal by Andrew Ladd, but it was all him on the second one, from Anthony Stewart. The Stewart shot is one that he'll need to learn to get, the angle wasn't bad and he, by all means, should have been able to get in front of it.

The game is tied going into the third period, join in on the live gamethread over at Fear The Fin to discuss.

Sharks Jump Ahead To 2-0 Lead In First Period

On the power play, just coming off 5-on-3, Dany Heatley gave the San Jose Sharks their first goal at HP Pavilion for the 2010-2011 NHL season. Shortly after that, Ryane Clowe got a piece of the puck and pushed the Sharks to a two-nothing lead with the help of Torrey Mitchell. 

Head over to Fear The Fin for the live gamethread and participate in discussion.

Sharks-Thrashers: Coach Todd McLellan Announces Same Lines as Stockholm

Sharks coach Todd McLellan indicated that the team would utilize similar lines that they used during their 2-game set with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Stockholm:

McGinn-Thornton-Setoguchi

Marleau-Pavelski-Mitchell

Clowe-Couture-Heatley

McLaren-Nichol-McCarthy

Fear The Fin indicated that goalie Antti NIemi would get the start.

Sharks Sign Captain Joe Thornton To Three-Year Contract Extension

The San Jose Sharks should go into tonight’s battle with the Atlanta Thrashers on a bit of a high note as the club announced they have signed captain Joe Thornton to a three year contract extension. The contract, worth $21 million, will keep Thornton with the club through the 2013-14 season.

Thornton has gotten off to a solid start with two goals in his first two game and has scored more points than anybody else in the league since the 2002-03 season.

San Jose Sharks Host Atlanta Thrashers For Home Opener Of 2010-2011 Season

The Sharks started their 2010-2011 in Stockholm, Sweden, exchanging "home," contests with the Columbus Blue Jackets. A week later, and they're ready to host their home opener as the Atlanta Thrashers come a'knockin'. The Sharks went 1-1 in Sweden, and answered few of the questions they had coming into the season.

The magnifying glass was on the goalie situation, a position filled with free agent signings Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki. Niemi started the opener and allowed two goals on thirty-two shots on goal, good for a .938 save percentage in the Sharks 3-2 victory. Niittymaki started the second, and allowed three goals on twenty-five shots with a .880 save percentage, as the Sharks fell to the Blue Jackets to the tune of 3-2.

None of the goals looked particular detrimental for the Sharks 2010-2011 season, but neither were the saves all-that spectacular. They were both far from shutout, but they were both far from hopeless, to go along with that. 

There's a bit of unrest coming out of San Jose right now in regards to the long layoff in between games. When the schedule came out, it was worth noting that a week off was probably a good thing for the Sharks after the flights to and from Sweden. Now that the teams are back and practicing, they're uneasy and restless. Much like Sharks fans themselves, it seems.

Niemi will be in net for the Sharks at home, his first time in a non-hostile environment, but it wasn't so long ago that he made two starts in San Jose en route to a Chicago Blackhawks playoff sweep of the team to end the Sharks 2009-2010 campaign. He'l be in charge of holding down the fort for a Sharks team that had the third-best home record in the NHL last year. He's made one start against the Thrashers in his career, a 5-4 shootout victory last season.

New Sharks team captain Joe Thornton generally plays the Thrashers well and has two goals over two games in his 2010-2011 campaign.

The Thrashers have never beaten the Sharks in San Jose in five meetings at the HP Pavilion. In their last meeting, the Sharks came away with a 4-3 win and have won five straight games against the team, and will look to make it six.