SHARKSPAGE

Anatomy of a blown call, Martin Havlat’s game deciding staged hook on Torrey Mitchell

ON SECOND PERIOD PK #17 MITCHELL PURSUES #24 HAVLAT - VERSUS

#24 MARTIN HAVLATT SQUEEZES #17'S STICK BEFORE HITTING BOARDS

#24 HAVLAT LIFTS STICK INTO AIR FAKING A HOOK, THEN FALLS

It was a coup when the goal-starved Wild were able to nab former Blackhawks team-MVP Martin Havlat in the summer of 2009. After signing the power forward to a lengthy 6-year contract, Havlat struggled in his Minnesota Wild debut scoring only 18 goals and 36 points in 73 games played. The seasons may have changed, but for #24 the goal scoring drought has continued in 2010-11. Through 11 games played in October and November, Havlat has not found the back of the net a single time.

Late last week Havlat’s agent Alan Walsh complained that Havlat was being used in a secondary role with the Wild. “Since (his signing), Marty has been used in a purely secondary role. Look at this season, he’s played four straight games at about 14 minutes of ice time, he’s used on the second power-play unit, he sits for long stretches, he’s not used in the shootouts,” Walsh told the Star Tribunes Michael Russo via email. “At a certain point in time, one has to ask, ‘Why is he here?’ One has to ask, ‘Why pay this guy $30 million to not play?'”

Since that disputed comment was made, Havlat registered 17:27 minutes of ice time against Washington, 21:26 minutes of ice time against Chicago, and 21:36 of ice time against the San Jose Sharks. With the man advantage, Havlat earned 3:28 and 3:34 of power play time against Washington and Chicago, before logging a ginormous 9:24 against San Jose. During that 3-game span he registered a lone assist and only 4 total shots on goal.

Tuesday night at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Havlat contributed to the game deciding 5-on-3 penalty by staging a hooking call in the offensive zone. After Sharks rookie John McCarthy took a 4-minute high sticking penalty midway through the second period, Havlat was pursued by penalty killer Torrey Mitchell into the corner. Mitchell came in with his stick high, but Havlatt trapped the shaft between his arm and his body and clamped down. With his back to referees Brian Pochmara and Don Van Massenhoven, Havlat kept the stick under his arms as he crashed into the boards. The veteran then lifted Mitchell’s stick high into the air and “fell” backwards to ensure a call.

The hooking call came at 12:38, giving the Minnesota Wild and their second ranked power play at least a full two minute 5-on-3. After left wing Andrew Brunette rang a shot of the crossbar, Martin Havlat fired a subsequent pass across the crease which Brunette buried. It was the only goal of the game for the Minnesota Wild, and only their 7th goal overall in the last 6 games played.

Up 1-0 against the San Jose Sharks, the Wild went into prevent defense mode dropping 3 players deep instead of initiating an offensive attack or a transition through the neutral zone. Minnesota finished with only 16 shots on San Jose goaltender Antero Niittymaki, the fewest shots on goal the Sharks have faced in 128 regular season contests.

There is an unspoken motto in some professional sports circles, “If you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying.” For the San Jose Sharks, it is difficult outside of a Dany Heatley or a Scott Nichol to think of a forward that would even attempt a similar play. It should be a critical potential playoff lesson. Doing what is neccessary to win sometimes means operating outside the NHL rulebook.

[Update] Allan Walsh Makes Things Wildly Awkward for Client Martin Havlat – Puck Update.