Avs best Sharks in feisty Rookie Showcase opener

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Given this was the first game of the preseason for all of the players involved, it was no surprise the game had a sloppy feel to it as the puck dropped shortly after 2pm local time in the first of a three-game Rookie Showcase taking place over the weekend between the Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks.

With the Ducks getting the day off, they had the pleasure of sitting back and watching two teams get after each other and set the tone for the next two games. After speaking with J.T. Compher yesterday and hearing all about his competitiveness, it was no surprise he was one of the leaders of the pack in instigating the physical element to an otherwise meaningless game. He started it early, kept it up throughout, and finished things late.

The Avalanche would strike first in an evenly-played first period when Chris Bigras would blast one home from the point on the power play to make it 1-0. The slapshot ringed off the post and in as the Sharks goaltender was heavily screened by the big bodies of Avalanche forwards Mikko Rantanen and A.J. Greer. Compher would get the lone assist on the play and the Avalanche would take their one-goal lead into the first intermission.

It wouldn’t take long for the scoring to continue in the second period as Rantanen and Greer cycled the puck beautifully through the offensive zone, eventually leading to a gorgeous Rantanen pass out front to Greer, who was camped in front of the net and fending off a defenseman and easily jammed the puck into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Given their deficit, the Sharks would turn up the intensity even more and begin bombarding Avalanche goaltender Spencer Martin with shots but Martin steadily held his ground and kept the Sharks scoreless when he was removed with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period to make way for Chase Marchand.

The game would slide into the third period with the Sharks still trailing despite multiple power play opportunities. Both Martin and Marchand were steady and occasionally outstanding in net. The Sharks would finally end the shutout with about six minutes to play on a broken transition play that left defenseman Jeremy Roy wide open in the slot and he wasted little time in beating Marchand, making it 2-1.

Instead of allowing the Sharks to really make a game of it, the Avalanche would slam the door shut as just two minutes after the Roy goal, Compher took a pass entering the offensive zone along the wall on his forehand side and he put his head down and drove the net, beating everyone in the process and backhanding home a beautiful game-sealing third goal of the game.

Nikita Zadorov, who had an uneven game overall that included mental lapses and huge hits, would score into an empty net just about a minute later to push the game to its final score, 4-1.

THREE STARS

1. J.T. Compher – 1 goal, 1 assist (played aggressively throughout and was a difference maker in all zones)
2. A.J. Greer – game-winning goal (great forecheck presence consistently caused issues for Sharks)
3. Troy Bourke – didn’t show up on score sheet but was consistently excellent in all zones

PLAY OF THE GAME

Compher’s goal was pure confidence and belief he was flat out better than anyone on the Sharks. He proved to be correct and his goal essentially sealed the deal for the Avalanche.

TURNING POINT

Roy’s third-period goal took what looked like a potentially relaxed shutout victory away from the Avs and forced them to turn up the intensity late to keep the lead.

BY THE NUMBERS

While a competitive game throughout, the Avalanche were still outshot 36-23, although the 7-2 advantage in power plays might have played a role in those tilted shot totals.

QUOTE OF THE GAME

“I may not win many of them but I certainly don’t mind starting all the fights” – Avs forward Troy Bourke on the many post-whistle altercations he was involved with

WHAT’S NEXT

The Avs return tomorrow to play their second game of the showcase against the Anaheim Ducks. Puck drop is 1 p.m. local time.