San Jose Sharks
Game Notes #25: Sharks Win 3-1, Sweep Ducks

Period 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Minute into first San Jose Sharks power play, Anaheim clears but Karlsson intercepts puck close to OZ entry. But instead of re-asserting attack – like Kevin Labanc did yesterday in same position, which led to Karlsson PP goal, Karlsson passed it back all the way to Martin Jones. Interesting: Maybe Karlsson did not like momentum of that PP shift – don’t blame him, it wasn’t very crisp – as opposed to Labanc yesterday. And maybe Karlsson wanted to give PP2 a fair chance if his unit wasn’t doing it.
Kane’s goal unassisted, but really, flub by Ben Hutton, who had a good chance walking down slot but instead turned it over, leads to a breakaway. And with opposing goaltending like that, San Jose’s going to win a lot of games.
Sharks have wasted consecutive power play chances. No momentum created. Lucky to be up one off Hutton flub, Miller mistake.
Nice work by Nieto to beat Lundestrom to front, draw penalty. Quietly has done nice job in higher role.
Much better PP here, good back and forth between Karlsson and Labanc up top before units switch. Before that, Labanc pulled Larsson to him, then fed Donato who went for stuff. Good puck movement from Labanc on this PP.
Burns drops it to nobody on PP, Heinen has breakaway, but Jones!
Outstanding save by Jones on Heinen — a lot of talk of how Dubnyk save on Comtois changed yesterday's game, maybe that will be Jones's moment
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 14, 2021
6 minutes left: Just awful shift from Couture line and Knyzhov-Karlsson. Will have to re-watch. Post saves Sharks.
For all the praise that Gabriel received last game, a lot deserved, you can’t have that OZ penalty.
2 minutes left, Terry wants to attack off wall on PP, he’s scanning options, Hertl just jumps him, takes puck away. Good PK work.
25 secs left, Henrique has back turned in corner, Gabriel pulls up, doesn’t unload. Nothing to crow about, that’s just responsible hockey from him and it’s a clearly different game these days. On the way back to the bench, Deslauriers still gives Gabriel a push. Round 2?
Period 2
Simek can’t keep puck in, got caught standing still there, Max Jones blows by him. Wow, Jones has tools, saw how strong he was last night, now seeing how fast he is. Seems like a parts greater than sum guy, but those are pretty good parts.
Great step-up by Ferraro leads to puck possession which results in Hertl to Labanc.
10 minutes in, Couture takes first shift since opening shift of period. Assume he got hurt or equipment issue, didn’t see anything myself. He remains on bench.
Couture took a hit from Jani Hakanpaa early in the second period but is just now back on the ice after he didn't skate for the last 10 minutes.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) March 14, 2021
9 minutes left, fantastic work by Nieto to forecheck Hutton into Miller. Nieto has been skating like a house on fire tonight.
6 minutes left, Meier has been a pest on the forecheck tonight, winning a lot of pucks back.
5 minutes left, great switch between Burns and Labanc, Burns goes low, Labanc covers. Burns finds Ferraro for a good chance.
Hakanpaa has been dispensing punishment tonight, Kane gets up slow after net front battle.
Ducks PK has been giving Sharks space to work with. San Jose just not executing here so far tonight. If they lose, it will be on back of disappointing PP.
After PP, another insistent shift by Nieto. All over puck. Line of Gambrell-Nieto-Handemark is a list of non-PP guys that Bob must like tonight.
Yup, per SPORTLOGiQ, Nieto leads all Sharks in Slot Shots and Scoring Chances Off the Rush.
Period 3
Here’s a chance for Jones to stake his claim for why he still deserves to be on San Jose Sharks. Okay, so he’s not a good starter. Doesn’t mean he can’t be an important back-up.
Have not liked Karlsson as much tonight. Maybe back-to-back wearing on him. Just hasn’t popped as much on offense, feet don’t seem as explosive.
Greasy goal by Gambrell: Starts with a fantastic pass on entry from Donato to Leonard. Looks like Leonard caught Mahura awkwardly, hope Mahura okay.
5 minutes in, I can hear Gabriel beating his stick against the boards up here for that Jones save on Lundestrom.
Nieto deserves one — SH post.
Down just 2 with 9 minutes to go, on a power play, #FlyTogether allows essentially 3 SH breakaway chances. Wow
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 14, 2021
7 minutes left, Nieto just insistent on puck, trying to get it out.
4 minutes left, Gabriel skates well: See how he keeps up with Fowler on forecheck. Straight one-on-one battle there.
Or Jones. Because that would just be cool (and he's been good!)
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 14, 2021