Bob Errey, leader of the scrappy 1994 San Jose Sharks who shocked the hockey world, delivered words that still ring true in San Jose — and were acted upon Tuesday night.
Sharks radio announcer Dan Rusanowsky tweeted Errey’s “16 Points for Playoff Success,” which the then-captain wrote and shared before the team’s Stanley Cup playoff first-round upset of the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings 25 years ago.
One of the 16 points, in particular, might resonate with the current Sharks, after their 5-4 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 extended their season past the first round.
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Indeed, a five-minute major penalty on Vegas for cross-checking changed the game for the Sharks, who scored four power-play goals in 4:01 in the third period. That turned a seemingly hopeless 3-0 deficit into a hopeful 4-3 lead. The reckless hit took current team captain Joe Pavelski out of the game, but the Sharks’ reaction put them back in it, as their former captain foretold.
Of course, point Nos. 12, 13 and 16 also apply to these Sharks. They mostly kept their cool, even after losing Pavelski on a scary, dangerous hit. They attacked the net to create chances. And they showed incredible tenacity in not quitting, despite the odds.
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So, time is a flat circle for the Sharks, whose captain from glory days long gone pointed the way to winning a game today.