As part of a season review, sharksahl.com is taking a look back at some of the top moments from the Worcester Sharks’ second season. This week, we continue with the top performances from Worcester alumni while playing for the 2007-08 San Jose Sharks!

 

We want your opinion too! Any and all comments, suggestions, or feedback are welcome by emailing Public Relations Intern Justin "Guy" Lafleur at jlafleur@sharksahl.com. Remember to check back in the days and weeks ahead for more superlatives from 2008! At that time, we will look back at fans' comments as well!

 

Weekly Archives:

Week 1: Top 5 Individual Single-Game Performances

Week 2: Top 5 Fights

Week 3: Top 5 Thrilling Finishes

This Week: Top 5 Worcester Alumni Performances In San Jose

 

 

Joe Pavelski scored only 1:05 into overtime to give San Jose a thrilling 3-2 win over Dallas, cutting the Stars’ once 3-0 series advantage to 3-2, forcing an unimaginable Game 6 back in Dallas. San Jose found themselves down 2-0 heading into the third, but Milan Michalek and Brian Campbell lit the lamp to force overtime, paving the way for Pavelski’s heroics. In the extra session, Pavelski stole the puck from Antti Miettinen in the left wing circle and started crossing toward the right wing side. Showing outstanding patience, he circled and avoided Nicklas Grossman while letting go a stifling wrister that beat Stars’ goaltender Marty Turco over his left shoulder to cap off three unanswered goals in front of a raucous home crowd at the HP Pavilion.

 

 

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Devin Setoguchi had an NHL debut to remember. With San Jose trailing Dallas 2-1 midway through the third period, the rookie stepped up with two goals in less than three minutes (at the 11:53 and 14:27 marks), good for the game-tying and game-winning tallies. The other two San Jose goals were also scored by Worcester alumni (Joe Pavelski and Steve Bernier), but no one was bigger than Setoguchi who earned the first star of the game in what was a sign of things to come.

 

 

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3. Tomas Plihal tremendous in Game 6 at Dallas (May 4):

Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Tomas Plihal was one of the best (if not best) players on the ice in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Dallas. Plihal, who played 22 games for Worcester this past season and 47 in 2006-07, screened goaltender Marty Turco to allow Ryan Clowe’s third period shot to tie the game at one. Later in the period, he also made a potential game-saving block to deny Dallas of a glorious scoring opportunity. In overtime, Plihal stepped in for injured Milan Michalek and joined Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheecho on the team’s top line. He was one of the most active forwards on either side, coming up with some of the Sharks’ best chances in the extra session and finishing with 31:16 of ice time in the four overtime marathon.

 

 

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Tom Cavanagh was rewarded for a tremendous season in Worcester with his first-ever NHL call-up. The Rhode Island native was in the starting lineup along with Joe Thornton and Jeremy Roenick. The two potential Hall of Famers kept feeding Cavanagh with shots, but it was Cavanagh who would be credited with the helper on a Thornton tally only 36 seconds into the game.

 

 

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Despite ending in heartbreak, Thomas Greiss’ NHL debut was one to remember. He was given the starting nod on Jan. 13 when San Jose traveled to Anaheim to face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Ducks. The Sharks held the 3-2 lead with less than one minute remaining in the third, but Doug Weight scored at the 19:32 mark and Francois Beauchemin added the game-winner in overtime. Greiss still earned a well-deserved point in what was a very impressive debut.

 

 

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After a slow start, Joe Pavelski finished the season with a bang, highlighted by a seven-game point streak from Apr. 3-17. He also earned points in 13 of 16 games (from Mar. 16-Apr. 17), 15 of 20 (Mar. 11-Apr. 22), and 16 of 22 (Mar. 11-Apr. 27). The surge helped him finish the season with 40 points (19g, 21a), while also tallying 9 (5g, 4a) in 13  playoff games.

 

In this, his rookie season, Devin Setoguchi played 23 games for Worcester and 53 games (counting the playoffs) for San Jose. In his final return from Worcester to San Jose, Setoguchi would have another memorable performance against the NHL’s top team, Detroit. After Worcester alum Joe Pavelski gave the Sharks the 1-0 lead, Setoguchi added insurance at 52 seconds of the second period. Detroit cut the lead to 2-1, but Setoguchi responded with his second of the game at 9:17 of the third for the two-goal cushion. The insurance would prove to be crucial as the Red Wings trimmed the margin to 3-2 at the final horn. It marked Setoguchi’s third two-goal game of the season, earning him the game’s first star as the win helped extend what proved to be a historic unbeaten streak from late February into April!

 

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Only 24 hours after losing Game 1 to the Flames, the Sharks hit the ice in hopes of tying their first round playoff series at one. Worcester alum Joe Pavelski got things started with an early second period goal, but it was Torrey Mitchell who gave San Jose some breathing room. After a flurry of shots at Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, Mitchell came to the rescue. Skating from the left wing boards, he found a way to stuff the puck into the open net for the two-goal advantage, allowing San Jose to pick up their first win of the playoffs, a series they would eventually win in seven games.

 

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Penalty shots are extremely rare. Luckily, for Worcester alum Tomas Plihal, he had his chance to shine on Mar. 9 at Minnesota. At the 13:44 mark, he was awarded the shot after being hooked by Keith Carney on a breakaway. On the ensuing shot, he was able to beat Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom for the 2-0 lead. Every goal would loom large as San Jose ended up defeating the Wild in a shootout by the 3-2 final score.

 

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In what was a familiar trend, Devin Setoguchi recorded his second two-goal game of the season, with this coming at the expense of the Phoenix Coyotes. Just like his NHL debut, Setoguchi scored both in the third period (at 4:06 and 15:12) to extend the Sharks’ 2-0 lead to 4-0. It marked his fourth and fifth goals of what proved to be an impressive rookie campaign.

 

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