SAN JOSE – Typically in the second half of a back-to-back, a team needs its younger, fresher legs to contribute, or even lead the way.
On Sunday against Dallas, though, the Sharks – currently the second oldest team in the NHL – turned to their 30-plus crowd to down the Stars, 5-1.
Captain Joe Pavelski, 32, led the way with a pair of goals; 37-year-old Patrick Marleau opened the scoring and was arguably the Sharks’ best forward; 36-year-old Paul Martin notched a pair of assists, and 36-year-old Joel Ward scored a goal early in the second period that really deflated Dallas.