Granato Grabs Hat Trick as Sharks Edge Kings, 7-6

The last time Tony Granato was spotted in the Forum, he was virtually bald after brain surgery and almost everyone was talking about his playing career in the past tense.

And the present tense?

How about a hat trick in his second game back from career-threatening surgery in February? That Granato was even playing in an NHL game again was amazing.

Sunday, the former King and current San Jose Shark scored two first-period goals in a span of 29 seconds and finished with the fifth hat trick of his career as the Sharks won, 7-6, in front of an announced crowd of 10,114.

Granato’s third goal, at 5:16 of the third period, gave the Sharks a one-goal lead, but the Kings rallied with two goals in the final six minutes to go ahead before the Sharks tied it, 6-6, with 3:16 remaining.

In overtime, left wing Viktor Kozlov scored with four seconds remaining to give the Sharks the victory. Kozlov seemed to lose control of the puck in the left circle before he shot, which may have thrown off King goaltender Stephane Fiset, who was beaten high on the glove side.

Former King Bernie Nicholls, who helped set up all three of Granato’s goals, scored the game-tying goal at 16:44. Granato got the assist, making it a four-point night for the former King.

Also returning to Los Angeles for the first time was former King goaltender Kelly Hrudey, who looked shaky. But it was hardly a goaltenders’ duel as Fiset didn’t have his best outing, either.

The Kings (1-1) were led by a four-point night by Yanic Perreault, who had a career-high two goals and had two assists. Scoring his first NHL goal was King forward Kai Nurminen. Dimitri Khristich had a goal and two assists.

But Granato’s accomplishment rendered everything else secondary, at least on the emotional scale. He played his first NHL game since Jan 27, returning Saturday night in San Jose’s 2-2 tie against the New York Islanders.

“I will wake up tomorrow and have to make sure this really happened,” said Granato, whose last hat trick was on April 3, 1995 against Edmonton. “It’s an unbelievable feeling right now just to be back playing and coming back here where I spent the last seven years and seeing a lot of friends and people who were a big part of my life.”

He was held without a point Saturday, but needed only 4:20 Sunday to net his first goal. Granato scored on a rebound from the base of the right circle, beating Fiset on the glove side.

“I think, deep down, that’s as good as I’ve ever felt on a goal,” Granato said.

Oddly enough, it was Nicholls who was traded from the Kings, sent to the Rangers, for Granato and Tomas Sandstrom in January 1990. And it was Nicholls, on a summer golf outing, who convinced Granato to make his comeback in the Bay Area. Granato said the Kings attempted to re-sign him, but he liked what the Sharks were doing in terms of rebuilding their team.

Granato’s second goal came 29 seconds after the first, an easy tap-in at the left post to make it 2-0. By the time he finished off the hat trick, the Kings had turned it into a wide-open game.

His third goal came on a pass from Nicholls, and Granato managed to get away from Brent Grieve, and he redirected the puck in close over Fiset’s arm.

“As much as it is frustrating for us to lose, I’m happy for Tony,” King defenseman Rob Blake said. “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met and he’s a great player. No matter how good a friend he is, it’s tough when someone scores three against you.

“After the first goal, I told him, ‘That was it.’ But it didn’t work out that way.”

As for Hrudey, he was first cheered and later heckled.

“It was a pretty thrilling victory,” he said. “ . . . I have to admit I was awful nervous today. . . . I was too emotional to play well. It’s tough when you’ve spent this many years here and want to do so well.”