San Jose Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev has been named the NHL’s 3rd Star of the week. Kurashev had four goals and three assists in four games. The winger is currently on a five-game point streak, where he has four goals and four assists.
After being a healthy scratch for two games, Kurashev has come back with sparkling play. He’s found a home on the San Jose Sharks’ second line. Kurashev is on the left wing with Alexander Wennberg in the middle and William Eklund on the right. The other part of this line is who they’ve been matched up against.
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky has constantly used this line to face opposing teams’ top lines and players. That hasn’t slowed them down, as Kurashev’s offense has come alive.
“When you go to shut down a top line like that, everyone says you’ve got to shut them down in the defensive zone. You’ve got to play without the puck. I want them to play in the offensive zone. I think that’s the best way to shut down the top line is to play in the offensive zone,” Warsofsky said after the Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. “Hold on to pucks. Make them come 200 feet. Make their top players play defense. Top players really don’t want to play defense, and we have to make them play defense. I thought that line did a really good job of that.”
Kurashev scored two goals against the Avalanche last Saturday, including the overtime winner.
Kurashev signed a one-year $1.2 million contract this offseason. The former Chicago Blackhawks winger fell out of favor and was not re-signed. The Sharks took a chance on Kurashev and appear to have gotten one of the best value free agent signings of the Summer.
“We’re all going as a line really well, and it’s been a lot of fun the last couple of games. We will try to build on this,” Kurashev said. “Just work hard, and try to be good in battles. Try to support my line mates. We’ve been doing a good job of that, and it’s been paying off.”
Eklund missed the San Jose Sharks game on Sunday due to a lower-body injury, but that didn’t stop Kurashev from having success. Kurashev got the primary assist on Jeff Skinner’s fourth goal of the season.
The Sharks have found their game and, after losing the first six games of the season, have pulled their record to 4-6-3. While it is still incredibly early in the season, San Jose sits just three points out of a wild-card spot. If they can stay close, Kurashev is one of the main reasons why, as his play is helping the team win more games.
For all the coverage on the Sharks this season, read on Hockey Hot Stove and Sharks Hockey Digest.
