from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

Raffi Torres played his first game of the season and scored twice on the checking line. Logan Couture is back from his injury and was flying on a line with Patrick Marleau and Martin Havlat. And Joe Pavelski had the hat trick on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns.

If the Sharks can stay healthy they're definitely in a group of five or six teams contending in the Western Conference.

Torres was a real difference-maker for San Jose last season after being acquired at the trade deadline. The Sharks had only three players in the Olympics and having the ability to rest the likes of Thornton, Burns, Couture and Dan Boyle will be a very good thing, given that other contenders had more players in Sochi and now worry about their fatigue level.

read on for Burnside on the Wild, Custance on the Flyers and Strong the Blackhaws...