Postgame Notes #45: Marleau Breaks Record, Sharks Lose Shootout 3-2

LAS VEGAS, Nev. —

Period 1

GOTTA SEE IT: Marleau Breaks Gordie's Record https://t.co/AKE3tqYBWg

— San Jose Hockey Now (@sjhockeynow) April 20, 2021

Knyzhov goal: Lehner needs to have that, it looks like. Donato provided some pressure on forecheck on Theodore. Knyzhov’s second of the year, just 564 more to catch up to Patty.

2nd Vegas PP: Nice set looking play there, VGK break-in, Tuch streaks down middle, dangerous deflection but Jones is there. Knyzhov probably needs to move his feet faster there, lift the stick.

12 left: Patty short-handed breakaway, he can still skate Example #1,758 this year. But forced to his backhand though on chance.

6 left: Knyzhov bumps into Couture, Vegas has a 3-on-1 on entry until Knyzhov catches up. Been an interesting period for Nikolai so far. Karlsson does a good job making Pacioretty’s life harder, preventing an easy shot for Max.

But then, Knyzhov steps up with a long stick in neutral zone, bats down William Karlsson pass to Tuch, forces a turnover. Puck in the middle of ice, Gregor shovels it forward to Couture. Kane beats Marchessault down the gut, Couture finds him for the tip…but off the crossbar. Great work all around.

Kane, Pietrangelo & Lehner meet in the corner at horn blows. It's still #SJSharks/#VegasBorn, despite the good Marleau vibes

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 20, 2021

Very tight first: Per SPORTLOGiQ, 5-5 Slot Shots, 2-2 Scoring Chances Off Rush, All Situations.

Period 2

Gregor goal: Super job by Kane again to force Hague turnover on forecheck. And can’t argue, whatever his defensive deficiencies, that Gregor has produced so far this season whenever given the chance. Have to say too, hard to see why they tried Gregor at center. I mean, I get it in terms of where someone can help team the most, center as opposed to wing, but Gregor looks so much better playing and thinking in straight lines.

It’s been a while since Balcers has drawn ire of coaching staff. But two minor penalties in less than 25 minutes of action will probably do that. Have to remember that he’s young, but can’t keep playing with fire there.

Waved-off goal: Knyzhov has a chance to clear, chaos ensues, but San Jose Sharks saved by an early whistle.

4 in though: Outstanding forechecking burst by Balcers, takes puck off Martinez’s stick. Leads to a San Jose Sharks power play.

40 secs into PP: Interesting San Jose drop formation. One quarterback, three Sharks in plane behind him to receive drop pass.

8 in: Like that pick Marleau sets for Ferraro racing up the wall. Smart. A lot of other players would give up on play or wouldn’t help their teammate like that.

Smart hustle/speed play is example of why Marleau stays in #SJSharks line-up: Notice how he skates with Pacioretty trying to hunt down puck carrier Ferraro. SJS12 skates with VGK67, doesn't interfere, but occupies same lane so VGK67 doesn't have free shot at SJS38. SJS exit pic.twitter.com/4Oe4awANBt

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 20, 2021

7 left: Tough Simek turnover there.

6 left: After a beautiful Burns backhand pass to Marleau racing up the center – hard, accurate, in stride – Burns telegraphs a pass to Marleau from defensive corner to blueline. Dangerous.

2 left: McNabb and Marleau bump up high, two Saskatchewan boys going at it.

1 left: Gregor along wall gets stapled, doesn’t get it out. That’s kind of stuff that needs to improve long-term.

Vegas starting to come on: Per SPORTLOGiQ, Vegas 6-1 Slot Shots, 2-0 Rush Chances in 2nd. Chances aren’t very tight, but Golden Knights start to push out San Jose Sharks in terms of puck possession. Jones has played well.

Period 3

Simek missed a couple shifts at end of 2nd period after aforementioned turnover. Don’t know if he went in, wasn’t watching. But he’s back to start 3rd.

2 in: What a Meier feed to Labanc. You don’t want Meier to fall to in love with the pass, he can make plays. Then next shift, Donato dangles Theodore, gets a backhand off.

Not the first time this year that #VegasBorn has beat #SJSharks on PP with that jam play

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 20, 2021

Key there is Pacioretty high-low pass that beats Burns to Stone.

Golden Knights are raining chances on the San Jose Sharks now.

#SJSharks legend Mattias Janmark helps out his old mates by taking a penalty there

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 20, 2021

7 in: Karlsson does not look good on that 4-on-4 breakout. Did not get help, but regardless. Maybe just trying to buy time until San Jose Sharks PP? Doesn’t make an egregious turnover in face of Nosek forecheck, but that’s a glass-and-out play that you do not associate with him in a 1-on-1 situation. There’s a lack of trust there with his body, maybe. I’d expect him to use his feet to make a play.

9 in: Nice step-up by Knyzhov in NZ again. Shovels it to Meier, who makes an unfortunate diagonal NZ pass that’s easily intercepted. Counterattack, faceoff in Sharks zone.

10 in: McNabb stands up Couture. Gregor a dervish on this shift, all over the zone, firing passes and shots. Even stick lifts Theodore’s stick out of hand while passing by, maybe a call? But no call and for a second a Vegas d-man has no stick in o-zone, but Sharks don’t take advantage.

8 left: Knyzhov rainbows a Karlsson-like stretch to Labanc, great pass, better reception by Labanc, but offside.

7 left: Off draw, Karlsson pinches when he should stay back? Karlsson does stop breakout pass though. But dangerous. Then on other side of ice. after corner collision, Marchessault beats Karlsson with ease to front. Karlsson laboring here.

5 left: 2 Simek breakout passes, study in contrast. Both intercepted though. First one, he makes right to play to right person, tries to pop a pass along wall, gets picked off. That’s okay: Right guy, turned over in less dangerous place. But then, he gets puck back, goes other way, tosses a weak bankhand pass to no one — under zero duress. His mental game seems off.

2 left: Looks like uncalled Lehner interference on Marleau.

Ferraro with best save of the night, gets Sharks into OT. They survive.

OT

SJS starts OT with Kane-Couture-Karlsson. Hope Marleau gets a spin

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 20, 2021

Marleau comes out with Hertl and Burns.

Jones doing his best to get Patty that win. Big saves in OT.

Great breakout by Gambrell-Meier, speed, Gambrell lays it where Meier can skate into it.