SAN JOSE – Brent Burns scored the first goal for the San Jose Sharks Saturday night 59 seconds into action in a 6-3 victory over the visiting Calgary Flames. The forward can expect to spend more time than that on Nov. 1 when he receives a haircut and shave for charity.
Known this season for his untamed hair and Mountain Man beard, Burns, owner of four goals and four assists in San Jose’s 7-0-1 start, agreed to the activity, tabbed “Burnzie’s Buzzcut for Charity.” The proceeds will benefit both Defending the Blueline and the Katie Moore Foundation.
The Sharks posted two power play goals in the second period to go into the second intermission with a 4-1 advantage.
San Jose went on four power plays in the second period. Joe Pavelski made the Flames pay at 8:57 when he set up in the low slot and redirected a pass from Patrick Marleau over the shoulder of goaltender Kerri Remo for his second goal of the year.
Pavelski returned the favor for Marleau at the 17:59 mark. Pavelski collected a short pass from Joe Thornton in the left circle before finding Marleau unmarked beside the right post for the feed and stuff shot for the 4-1 edge.
The Sharks went on a power play 69 seconds into the third period, only to give up a short-handed goal by Calgary’s Mikael Backlund. Calgary added an even-strength goal at 3:56, Jiri Huder’s blast from the top of the right circle, to move within one goal.
Pavelski completed his four-point evening when he redirected Logan Couture’s long shot from the blueline over Remo’s left leg at 8:38 for the 5-3 cushion. Logan Couture added an empty net goal from near the red line in the final 82 seconds for the 6-3 final.
Burns went on only eight shifts in the first period, yet was involved in most of the action.
Pavelski pulled the puck away from Flames defenseman Kris Russell in the corner of the Calgary zone and spotted Burns at the edge of the crease for the powerful slapshot inside the right post to open the scoring.
At the 4:21 mark Burns was fouled on a breakaway by TJ Brodie, earning his first-ever penalty shot. Burns’ backhander was stopped by Remo. With 53 seconds left in the first period, Burns was at the crease as a shield when Scott Hannan’s low shot from the left point dipped past Remo for the 2-0 San Jose lead.
Pavelski moved atop the Sharks’ scoring list with 12 points. Marleau, Thornton and Couture sit with 11 apiece, while Tomas Hertl has 10.
San Jose begins a five-game roadtrip Monday in Detroit. The next Sharks home game is Saturday Nov. 2 against Phoenix.
