Grosenick posts shutout in NHL debut (updated)

by Ryan Fay

Former Union goalie Troy Grosenick probably couldn't have scripted it any better.

Making his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, Grosenick recorded a 45-save shutout to lead the Sharks a 2-0 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was a record-setting performance for Grosenick, who was called up from the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks on Wednesday following an injury to Alex Stalock. He became the first goalie in San Jose history to record a shutout in his debut, and his 45 saves are an NHL record for a goalie debuting with a shutout.

Grosenick stretches out for one his
45 saves on Sunday

"That was unbelievable," San Jose's Joe Thornton told reporters after the game. "He's been in the NHL now, for what, three days? What can we say? We're so happy for him. He was the difference in this game."

The Sharks needed Grosenick, the game's No. 1 star, to be sharp as they were out-shot 45-19. It was their lowest single-game shot output this season.

"It was kind of nice to see all those shots because you don't have to think about too much else," Grosenick said. "I felt like I was seeing everything and trying to stay focused, which is kind of hard right now."

He turned aside 16 shots in the first period alone, including a pad stop at the left post on Victor Rask at 8:25. A second later, he denied Rask's attempt to bang home the rebound. Despite struggling to generate shots, the Sharks picked up a 1-0 lead at 18:46 when Tomas Hertl beat Anton Khudobin with a wrister.

In the second period, Grosenick added 15 more saves. With the Sharks clinging to a 1-0 lead, Grosenick made three stops in the final ten seconds of the period. He denied a shot from the point from Andrej Sekera at 19:50 before making a toe save on an attempt from Rask at 19:54. With four seconds left in the period, he outstretched his glove to deny a backhander from Jeff Skinner.

The pressure kept coming in the third as the Hurricanes fired 14 more shots. With an eye towards the game-tying goal, the Hurricanes pulled Khudobin for the extra attacker at 18:56. But Grosenick stood tall, with the biggest threat being a slap shot from Skinner at 19:29.

The Sharks sealed the win with an empty net goal from Thornton at 19:52.

"To get a young man like that to come in and steal us a game when we didn't have our A game was great," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. "We were pretty emotional in the locker room for our goaltender."

After the final horn sounded, Grosenick tossed his water bottle underhanded towards the Sharks bench and was greeted by teammates.

"It's a celebration thing," said Grosenick, whose parents flew in from Milwaukee to see the game. "I figure if shooters get to celebrate when they score, goalies should get to celebrate when they win. It's my go-to celebration going back to college."

Grosenick, the eighth former Union player to appear in an NHL game, played for the Dutchmen from 2010-2013. He finished his collegiate career with a 39-16-9 record, a 1.89 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. The Brookfield, Wisconsin native gave up his senior season when he signed with San Jose in April 2013.


Highlights








ESPN's John Buccigross names Grosenick his Star of the Night on SportsCenter


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