Devin Cooley is trying to stay level-headed despite his impressive performances in his last two starts. It’s hard not to get excited considering how well he’s played.
In just his fourth career start, Cooley made an impressive 49 saves, while Kyle Burroughs and Fabian Zetterlund scored goals less than a minute apart in the second period to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
“It’s been incredible. I’m just trying to stay focused and not let myself get carried away. This league can humble you quickly,” Cooley said. “I’m taking it one day at a time, one save at a time. Trying to stay present and not get too ahead of myself, although it’s tough given how well things have been going lately.”
Cooley, a Bay Area native, became the first California-born goalie to start for San Jose. After making 34 saves in his last start against St. Louis, he delivered an even better performance against Seattle.
He made 33 saves through the first two periods, repeatedly denying scoring chances by the Kraken. In the third period, he made crucial stops, including one on Jaden Schwartz during a power play and another on Adam Larsson with an extra attacker on the ice and two defenders injured. Shane Wright also hit the post in the third period.
“Our goalie was exceptional, not much more to say,” commented San Jose coach David Quinn. Burroughs broke a 1-1 tie with his second goal of the season, capitalizing on an odd-man rush assisted by William Eklund.
Zetterlund then extended the lead less than a minute later, deflecting Mikael Granlund’s pass past Kraken goalie Joey Daccord. Luke Kunin scored Seattle’s lone goal in the first period.
Brian Dumoulin scored his career-high sixth goal of the season for Seattle in the first period, but they couldn’t solve Cooley for the rest of the game. Despite having numerous shots on goal, Seattle couldn’t find a way past Cooley, who stood firm throughout the match.
