assisted on two goals in his first game against Ottawa since his
blockbuster trade to San Jose, leading the Sharks to a 5-2 victory over
the Senators on Tuesday night.
Patrick Marleau scored on both of
Heatley’s assists, passing him for the team lead with 19 goals. Jamie
McGinn, Ryane Clowe and Manny Malhotra also scored for San Jose, while
Joe Thornton had two assists to up his league-leading total to 32.
Backup goalie Thomas Greiss made 25 saves.
The night worked out almost perfectly
for Sharks fans, who got to cheer their newest star as he helped lead
the team to a win in the first home game since a 7-2 loss to Chicago
last week. They also got to honor two of the fan favorites who were
dealt to Ottawa for Heatley in September.
Milan Michalek was cheered after
scoring both goals for the Senators, while Jonathan Cheechoo got a warm
ovation when his picture was shown on the video board early in the
first period. And he heard the train whistles when he touched the puck
that were traditional when he played here.
Heatley surely will get a different
reaction the first time he goes back to Ottawa. He was vilified in
Canada this summer, first for demanding a trade from Ottawa and then
for turning down a potential deal to Edmonton. He finally was dealt to
the Sharks on the eve of training camp.
He has been a welcome addition on Joe
Thornton’s line in San Jose, scoring 18 goals to help the Sharks break
out to the best record in the league heading into this hyped matchup
against his former team.
Heatley came out energized, putting
six shots on goal in the first period and setting up the first goal of
the game. Heatley made a good effort to keep the puck in at the blue
line, getting it to Thornton, who fed Marleau for the opening score.
Heatley assisted on another goal by
Marleau in the second period when his backhand shot was deflected onto
the stick of Marleau, who beat Brian Elliott to make it 3-1 just 4
seconds after Matt Carkner came out of the box for a delay of game
penalty.
Michalek also came out with a little
extra pep in his step, scoring on a backhander in the first period and
converting with a one-timer off a feed from Daniel Alfredsson on the
power play in the second to cut San Jose’s lead to 4-2. That was just
the third power-play goal allowed in 11 home games this season by the
Sharks.
Notes
Elliott made 28 saves. …
Half of the 24 shots in the first period were taken by the three
players from the deal, with Heatley having six, Michalek four and
Cheechoo two. … Senators D Anton Volchenkov returned to the ice for
the first time since dislocating his right elbow on Oct. 28. …
Marleau played in his 900th career game.