So Heatley had a monster night last night- a hat trick and a assist, and on the ice for all six Sharks goals, but none of the goals against.  That means a +6 for those keeping score at home.  After the first goal, where Heatley wheeled into the crease with the puck and just tried to slam it in, Doug turns to me and says “Joe would never have taken that shot.”  And he’s right.  Heatley is not bashful about trying to score from anywhere on the ice.  While that might draw derision in some circles and amongst some players, Dany has the shot to score from almost anywhere, and coupled with a premier set up man like Joe makes it a very dangerous line indeed.

I don’t put a lot of stock in this kind of thing, but Puck Daddy recently had a post about top lines, and let’s just check in on how they’re doing:

Semin-Backstrom-AO: 28 points

Joe-Heater-Seto: 23 points

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows: 13 points

Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan: 7 points

Alfredsson-Michalek-Spezza: 4 points

Those top two lines are on a serious tear.  Hard to imagine they can keep up the pace, but it’s been pretty fun to watch so far.  Just to update you on Heatley Trade Watch 2009, Heatley has 9 points, and Michalek and Cheech have one point.  Combined.

While the top line has certainly begun to click, other things are still lagging.  The defense still looks like the Two Stooges out there sometimes, and leaving Rick Nash unmarked in the slot is a brilliant recipe for a goal against.  I’d have to look at the tape again, but watching the arena reply on the Jumbotron, I couldn’t decide if Vlasic should have released his man at the near post, or Marleau should have come back to take the third guy (Blake was entangled with someone behind the net).  Either way, there were some nails-on-a-chalkboard moments defensively, and it’s definitely a good thing that the Sharks aren’t playing an offensive powerhouse for a few games.  They have a week- they’re in Washington on the 15th.