SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky sat down with Will Smith before the team’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks and showed him some video clips to help reinforce an important point.
Forget the pressure, and have some fun.
“Enjoy the process. You’re playing in the National Hockey League, and when you were 16 years old, if someone said in three years you’d be in the NHL, you probably would have thought they were nuts,” Warsofsky said of the meeting.
“So enjoy the moment. Enjoy coming to the rink. Enjoy the grind of it and the challenge of getting better each and every day.”
Smith looked like a much happier player Thursday night. Using his laser of a shot, one that hasn’t been seen a ton this season, the teenager scored the first two goals of his NHL career to help lead the Sharks to a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks, their third straight victory.
After scoring his first goal at the 6:52 mark of the opening period, Smith picked up a second at the 10:42 mark of the second, as his power-play goal gave the Sharks a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Smith didn’t have a point in the first eight games of his NHL career, which was probably the longest scoring drought he’s ever had. But that burden has officially been lifted.
“It’s probably the heaviest weight he’s ever had on his shoulders,” Warsofsky said. “The first time he probably hasn’t gotten points, the team gets off to a little bit of a losing streak, and all those things play into that feeling of that big weight on your shoulders.
“He’s a goal scorer. He’s a playmaker. Wants the puck on his stick. I’m sure (he’ll) sleep a lot nicer tonight.”
Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek had little chance on both of Smith’s wrist shots, as he was beaten high to the blocker side each time. On the second goal, Smith’s shot went in and out of the net so fast that half of the players on the ice thought the play was still going on. It absolutely froze Mrazek.
“It’s a hell of a shot,” said Sharks center Alexander Wennberg, whose goal early in the second period tied the game 2-2. “Obviously it would be nice to have that one, but it’s also fun to sit on the bench and see it.”
Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who had 29 saves Thursday, including 13 in the third period, has faced Smith plenty of times in practice. He knows how tough that shot is to stop, although he didn’t necessarily want to dole out a ton of compliments to the rookie.
“No comment, I’m not giving him any credit,” Blackwood said of Smith’s quick release. “We’ve got a little rivalry going.”
So who’s winning?
“No comment,” Blackwood said.
Smith just had to take what he’s done in practice into the games. He came into Thursday with 11 shots on goal in eight games, but he had three against the Blackhawks.
“We were watching film, always trying to learn different things, trying to help …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
