Heatley Hat Trick Propels Sharks to Win 6-3 Over Blue Jackets

In the season home opener, the crowd in San Jose were excited to see one of the biggest off-season acquisitions in the NHL in Dany Heatley. Heatley did not disappoint, as he scored 3 goals, including the game winner in the dying seconds of the second period, as the San Jose Sharks won their home opener against the previously undefeated Columbus Blue Jackets.

The first period displayed a lot of open ice offensively, but only one goal was scored. A failed clear attempt in the San Jose zone led to a blast from the point. The puck reached Nabokov and a crowd in front of him, but eventually trickled out to the top of the crease, where Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash skated across the blue paint to stuff it into the open net to give Columbus the 1-0 lead.
The second period was a much different story. San Jose outscored Columbus 4 to 1 in the period, which started with Dan Boyle skating the puck into the offensive zone by himself, and wristing a perfect shot over the far shoulder of Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason to tie the game 1-1. 3 minutes later, Dany Heatley found himself 1 on 1 in the left faceoff circle, and took a quick shot above the pads of Mason to give San Jose the 2-1 lead. But Jason Chimera tied the game again, after he took a hard slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle to beat Evgeni Nabokov from long distance. But late in the second, the Sharks struck again. With under 2 minutes left, San Jose cycled the puck around the offensive zone, before Marc-Edouard Vlasic found himself along the sidewall. He took a quick shot, and it traveled through 3 bodies and hit the far side of the net to give San Jose the 3-2 lead. Then, with 12 seconds left in the period, Dany Heatley took a long pass from Joe Thornton across the neutral zone, split the Columbus defense, and made a quick right to left move to beat an unbalanced Steve Mason to give San Jose a 4-2 lead into the third.
San Jose came out to add some more insurance early in the third. Devin Setoguchi had a nice give-and-go play with Joe Thornton parked behind the Columbus net, and was able to free himself for a one-timer a few feet in front of Mason to extend the lead 5-2. Mason was pulled and Mathieu Garon made his first appearance on ice as a Columbus Blue Jacket this season. San Jose took a penalty, and a few seconds into the 4th power play attempt of the night, the Blue Jackets' Raffi Torres took a high slap shot that looked as if it was going to sail over the net. But as it went over Nabokov's head, it hit Dan Boyle's head and was redirected into the net, and the Blue Jackets were within 2 with lots of time left. But Heatley found himself on another breakaway before a Columbus defensemen tripped him with the stick, setting up one of the most electric moments in HP Pavilion. Dany Heatley took the penalty shot, and made a quick feint with his stick before shooting the puck underneath the stick of Garon, completing the hat trick, which was a storybook ending for a player who made his home debut in San Jose after a summer of scrutiny.

Evgeni Nabokov made 24 saves on 27 shots, but could have easily given up 2 more goals, as he handled the puck a la Marty Turco, but threw the puck both times from behind his net into the front to a defenseman. Both were dangerous plays, but the Blue Jackets couldn't jump into the play in time to punish the goaltender. Heatley led all skaters in goals (3), plus-minus rating (+6), and shots on goal (6). Joe Thornton had assisted in every single goal (except, of course, the penalty shot), and had tied a career high in assists in a single game with 5, before a scoring change took away Thornton's secondary assist on Heatley's late second period goal. The game was ugly early, as there were two fights in the first half of the second period. Ryane Clowe bloodied Mike Blunden, and minutes later rookie Frazer McLaren and second year Derek Dorsett exchanged multiple blows, but both were fine after the fight and gave each other both friendly pats after the duel. Joe Pavelski missed his second straight game with a lower body injury, and is expected to miss two more weeks. Brad Staubitz served a one game suspension he picked up following the Los Angeles game. Rick Nash was the only Blue Jacket with multiple points, picking up his first goal of the year as well as an assist. San Jose's next game will be the second of their first home stand, where they will be hosting the Minnesota Wild before finishing it off with Phoenix.