While the San Jose Sharks have yet to deliver their fans the greatest memory of all, that isn’t to say there haven’t been a ton of great moments. There have been plenty of memorable goals, hits, and saves. Today we take a look at the Top 10 most memorable goals in franchise history. The main two considerations were skill and clutch factor, (or in case of No. 10, just sheer awesomeness). Some have pretty equal mixture of both, some are primarily crazy skill, some are primarily crazy clutch. Without further ado…
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Owen Nolan Calls His Shot in the 1997 All Star Game.
I debated going with Brian Campbell’s spin-o-rama goal in this spot, as this Nolan memory came in the All-Star Game and not an actual Sharks game. However, for those of us who grew up in the 90’s, I just couldn’t leave this off the list. We would emulate Nolan’s hat trick goal on a regular basis playing street hockey with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpw5J-nqSQw
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Patrick Marleau Game 3 OT Winner vs Detroit
While not the hardest of goals to score when put on your tape from the world’s best passer, still a memorable goal. The two faces of the franchise teamming up on a perfectly executed two-on-one overtime goal to go up 3-0 on the rival Red Wings is something I’ll never forget.
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Joe Pavelski Game 4 OT winner vs Colorado
Clowe to Murray, Murray over the line, trying to jam it ahead, Pavelskkiiii!!! HE SCORESSS!!! Joe Pavelski! The Sharks were down two games to one after Dan Boyle’s unfortunate OT blunder the prior game, but Pavelski’s OT heroics, digging the puck from between Murray’s skates and using the defenseman as a screen sent the series back to San Jose tied 2-2.
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Joe Pavelski Game 5 OT winner vs Dallas
It isn’t hard to explain why lil Joe’s nickname morphed into “The Big Pavelski”, he is simply captain clutch in the postseason. He has three career playoff OT goals, all of them top shelf glove side. This one in Game 5 staved off elimination.
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Tomas Hertl Between the Legs vs Rangers
Due to the score of the game during a regular season contest, personally I’m going to knock Hertl a little bit here, just sixth most memorable. However, you could argue it is the most memorable.
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Jonathan Cheechoo Between the Legs vs Colorado
This between the legs goal came in the playoffs, so it gets a nod above Hertl. People don’t give Cheechoo enough credit. During the 2003-04 regular season before Joe Thornton arrived, Cheechoo scored 28 goals in an league that was tight checking and defensive minded. This goal was an absolute beauty off of a pass nonetheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O1S2xgElH0
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Owen Nolan Center Ice Slap Shot Game 7 vs St. Louis
Just like in 1994, the 2000 eighth seeded Sharks were given no chance to beat the President’s Trophy winning No. 1 seed. This time around it was against the St. Louis Blues. San Jose wasn’t supposed to stand a chance but the gritty upstarts found a way to beat the odds. In Game 7, Owen Nolan unleashed a howitzer from center ice that remains one of the most memorable goals in Sharks history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2r3eHGIk88
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Ray Whitney Game 7 Double OT Winner vs Calgary
For the second year in a row in 1995, the Sharks would stun the hockey world. The seventh seeded Sharks knocked of the second seeded Calgary Flames in a wild seven game series. In double overtime, the legendary Ray Whitney would get his stick on a wrist shot and redirect it past Trevor Kidd. A Game 7 double overtime goal, it doesn’t get much more exciting than that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4mFuLcLQM
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Jamie Baker Game 7 GWG vs Detroit
Widely considered the biggest goal in Sharks history, Jamie Baker’s game winning goal in Game 7 of the 1994 playoffs capped off one of the biggest upsets in NHL history. The very first playoff appearance for a team that was coming off an abysmal season the year prior, to knock off the best team in hockey? Unreal.
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Patrick Marleau Game 5 GWG vs Detroit
I’m certainly in the minority in this case, but Marleau’s Game 5 game winning goal to me is the most memorable ahead of Baker. Why? Well, the Red Wings were once again a top team and the Sharks infamously blew a chance to go up 3-1 against them in 2007 Western Semifinals. They ended up losing that series in which Marleau was vilified for defensive positioning. For Marleau to come back the next series vs Detroit and finish them off with this beautiful third period one-time goal down to a knee? To send the Sharks to just their second ever conference final appearance? Yeah, this one tops my list.
Honorable Mentions/Just Missed the Cut:
Torrey Mitchell short handed goal vs Ducks
Good stuff. I can’t wait until we see a game winner in a Cup Finals.
appreciate the comment! That will be an awesome goal indeed.
AWESOME list. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.
thanks for reading and commenting!
What about Setoguchi’s goal that capped off the comeback?
a lot of people have asked that but that goal itself isnt as memorable as the others imo, it was a memorable comeback overall, but that goal i don’t think makes the cut.