La Voz

Media Credit: PHOTO BY John Remus III Sharks defensemen Josh Gorges (right) and Christian Ehrhoff bring down the Oilers offense in the final period. The Sharks went on to win 5-2 tonight. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: PHOTO BY John Remus III Sharks' pair of rookie forwards Steve Bernier (left) and Milan Michalek both had three points tonight in the 5-2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: PHOTO BY John Remus III Sharks' goalie Vesa Toskala stops one of couple attempts by Shawn Horcoff in the third period. Prior to the game, Toskala was awarded the Seagate Player of the Month for his outstanding performance in February. [Click to enlarge]

He couldn't sleep well last night, but newly acquired forward Ville Nieminen managed to make a great first impression. 

Nieminen, known for his tough and gritty play, became the catalyst for the Sharks' 5-2 win tonight over conference rival Edmonton Oilers.  The win brings the Sharks within six points for the eighth and final playoff spot currently held by the Oilers. 

Prior to the Mar. 9 trade deadline, the Sharks picked up Nieminen from the New York Rangers in exchange for a third round pick in the 2006 NHL draft.

"He was excellent," said Sharks' head coach Ron Wilson.  "He did all the thing we'd hope he bring to us."

He played extremely well on the penalty kill forcing the Oilers to go 0-3.  But it was his hits that triggered the Sharks to play with more grit, especially knocking Ryan Smyth to the ice early in the second period. 

The result was four more goals. 

"He had that one shift where he hit everything in site and got the crowd going and really sparked up our bench," said Wilson.  "He's going to be a great addition.  We've been missing that type of performance from the players all season and hopefully it will light the fire on a couple of guys who are capable of doing it but just haven't decided to it."

The fire was lit within Sharks' forward Steve Bernier.  After being called up from the AHL for the third time this season, Bernier got out of a slump by putting in two goals. 

Bernier could've picked up the hat trick when Patrick Marleau was credit with a goal instead of Bernier.  Marleau scored with 11:46 left to play in the second period, picking up his 28^th goal of the season.

"A goal is a goal," said Bernier.  "Everyone was happy and that's the most important thing right now."

Bernier shot the puck towards Oilers' goalie Dwayne Roloson after receiving a pass from linemate Milan Michalek, who along with Bernier had three points on the night.  The puck managed to pass by Roloson.  Marleau tapped it in while the puck kept sliding towards the net.

After his assist on Marleau's goal, Bernier went on to net two goals in the third period, giving the Sharks some breathing room.

"They're really hungry, and that's what you need at this point of the season," said Wilson.  "Not guys who are afraid to fail, but who go out there and compete really hard."

The Sharks were hungry in the third period.  After going into locker room tied at two goals apiece, the first line pounced on the first play of final period.

Center Joe Thornton picked up his 25^th goal on the season eleven seconds into the period.  After Nils Ekman dumped the puck into the Oilers' zone and a two-on-one opportunity arose for Sharks.  Jonathan Cheechoo fed Thornton with a swift pass after Oilers' defenseman Jaroslav Spacek misplayed the puck.

Tonight's win was extremely crucial for the Sharks after losing three straight games on the road.  One of those losses came in Edmonton, when the Sharks lost the lead in the third period, losing 3-2. 

"We knew this one would be a big swing, and that's why it was so important," said goalie Vesa Toskala, who made 19 saves and was named Seagate Player of the Month of February prior to the game. "It was a four-point game. Now we're not that far back." 

Tonight's game is the first of six straight games at home.  They will face off against the Nashville Predators on Mar. 11 at 1 p.m.

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