Sharks Fall Apart Against Sens 5-2

OTTAWA — The San Jose Sharks visit the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.

Tomas Hertl, making a statement after his turnover against the Toronto Maple Leafs, started the scoring (twice) for the Sharks, but San Jose couldn’t keep it going, losing 5-2.

Period 1

Surprised that there’s been no obvious reaction to Aaron Dell here. Not that I’ve seen. Dell, of course, was suspended for a bad hit on Drake Batherson that sidelined the Sens star for a few weeks last year.

2 in: Benning with good vision, drops it to Hertl. Shots.

3 in: Whoa, where did that come from? Gadjovich with a Karlsson-like stretch pass to Lorentz, partial breakaway. What a pass!

6 in: Kunin forecheck forces turnover, but Gregor centering pass to Bonino intercepted.

Hertl goal: Great puck movement, Couture flank to flank to Barabanov, shot, rebound to Karlsson, his shot deflects off Meier, to Barabanov, who drives it, off the boards and Hertl cleans up.

Lindblom penalty: Not a great penalty, unnecessary with Vlasic supporting. Maybe Lindblom didn’t see him, thought he was preventing a breakaway?

Stutzle goal: Honestly, a good San Jose Sharks PK, they just never got a chance to get it out. Bonino out there for 1:14, they were disrupting a lot, but matter of time.

Hertl goal: Tommy! Hertl turned it over in NZ trying to find Meier. But then, he forces a turnover, gets it back. Labanc with a great touch and vision, hits Karlsson jumping up, royal road pass. Fantastic read by Karlsson to jump up, he sees Hertl hurtling down the slot, unmarked. Joseph slow to pick up Hertl, puck-watching.

Gregor just went into the locker room

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 4, 2022

5 left: Solid Couture line forecheck, this has been best Couture line in last three years when he’s not with a clear star (Kane, Meier) I think. Couture chance.

3 left: But boy, San Jose Sharks are playing into Sens’ hands too, careless with the puck, missing details. Don’t think Labanc should be diving into the wall battle, that leaves middle gaping. Karlsson too far head too with tenuous possession. DeBrincat has clear-cut in-tight breakaway, ugly. But post.

Sharks doing good things offensively, but really sloppy defensively and with details. Lucky to be up.

Period 2

1 in: Gregor, looking no worse for wear, beats his man up middle, gets a one-handed shot.

Gadjovich versus Kastelic, wonder if that's a response to Kastelic catching Cicek in the head last game. Good for Gadj

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 4, 2022

Just before that, Lorentz had another good chance, he’s due. Off good Lindblom and Gadjovich forecheck, Gadjovich finds Lorentz open with a crafty pass. Gadjovich has had a good game.

Giroux goal: The game had gotten a little more slug-em-out along the wall, which I think is what Sharks want. Benning was doing a good job defending along wall too, but then makes an ill-advised pass up the middle that totally misses Hertl, finds Giroux. Unforced error, another big mistake.

Watson rides over Cicek on hit, Kunin looks like he has a convo with him afterwards. Something to watch.

9 in: Another golden chance for Lorentz, coming down on 2-on-1 with Gadjovich. They’ve been good tonight.

10 left: Oh my, Hertl had a great chance for hat trick, great work by Sharks to advance up, Karlsson to Simek, who takes hit and hands it off to Labanc. Labanc finds Hertl unmarked, bad Sens change, coming down slot. Forsberg big stop.

6 left: Can’t remember last time PP2 scored? It’s OK, of course, since PP1 has been firing.

5 left: Kill Benning for his turnover, but he just did a really nice one-on-one job defending Stutzle there. Like. Then coming up the ice, Barabanov makes a move skating down slot, that line has another chance.

Every Sharks line has had a quality offensive shift, if not more than one. It’s the other stuff tonight.

First time #SJSharks PK has given up 2 goals since Mar. 24 last year at Edmonton

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 4, 2022

3 in: Bonino doesn’t have a stick, big stop by Kahkonen to just hold there. Sharks need a breather.

1 left: Labanc is doing so much good offensively, it’s a shame that his overall impact is being diminished by too many OZ penalties. He’s vying for puck, hungry for it, you don’t hate that, but he’s got to cut that “over” effort that’s leading to being whistled out of his game.

#SJSharks outplaying #GoSensGo at evens, 10-4 Slot Shots per @Sportlogiq, 6-4 High-Danger at 5v5 per @NatStatTrick. But scoreboard doesn't care about that & they're losing special teams battle right now

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 4, 2022

Period 3

Been a fan of Gadjovich’s game tonight, but that slash, can’t do that.

And that's the first time that #SJSharks penalty kill has given up 3 goals since 2020-21 season (2/13/21 vs. VGK)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 4, 2022

Law of averages. And if you keep on taking bad penalties, like that Labanc trip, you’re just exposing an overtaxed unit even more.

8 left: San Jose Sharks’ frustrations spilling over. Hertl looking like maybe hit high by Batherson, Gregor taken down by Pinto, Hertl goes after Watson. Only Hertl and DeBrincat sent off

7 left: Karlsson shifty in slot, draws a trip, fancy stuff. Still a game here.

Giroux goal: Not sure how that Hertl trip not called? But Forsberg stood tall, other end, Kahkonen does not. Meier is incensed, destroys his stick over crossbar.