Game Notes #28: Binnington Stretches Out Toe, Blues Top Sharks 2-1 in Shootout

Period 1

6 minutes, Knzyhov has great step-up on Tarasenko in neutral zone, forces turnover. Ensuing faceoff, Karlsson blows by forechecking Tarasenko, slings a beaut one-arm pass to Labanc on entry.

After a couple San Jose Sharks icings, good individual work by Labanc to win puck up top, get it out.

10 minutes left: Like Leonard’s offensive instincts, as I’ve said many times. Just has good sense of right play at right time. For example, he’s coming off left wall, wants to pass it to Gambrell standing behind net. Perfect velocity of pass, hard enough to elude defense, soft enough so Gambrell can easily catch it.

This game marks the halfway point of San Jose season. How many wins do they get rest of season? Call me optimistic, I’ll say 15. The team is OK, better than last year’s, but they won’t have enough for post-season. But enough for Doug Wilson to declare progress during the end-of-season press conference haha.

2 minutes left: Love this Ferraro play, skating behind his own net, toward Burns, Sundqvist between them expecting the pass, Ferraro stops up and reverses, keeping the puck. Sundqvist wipes out.

Big Jones save on Kyrou with seconds left after Karlsson misses slapping out puck in slot. If Dubnyk gets dealt, expect more of Jones and who?

Jones having himself a solid start: #STLBlues, per SPORTLOGiQ, have 6-1 Slot Shots lead, All Situations. But it's scoreless after Period 1

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 20, 2021

Period 2

That corner to slot aerial pass by Karlsson was gorgeous: Thought he was just okay last three games, but I’ve loved him tonight.

2 minutes in: Good responsibility by Leonard, has a chance to pinch on puck in OZ, but he’s covering for D, looks back, goes back.

3 minutes in: Little plays like this is where Gabriel needs to get better. Chance to get it out, relatively easy pass to Karlsson, but clanks it off Karlsson’s feet. Gabriel skates well and is an intimidating forechecker, but he’s not an asset if he’s gumming up San Jose Sharks’ breakout.

Ferraro almost took off Boughner's head there with missed D-to-D pass to Burns 😆

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 20, 2021

7 minutes in: Good work by Karlsson and Knyzhov, both containing and pinning Schenn. Boughner has pointed this out, Karlsson defending harder. That’s a good sign of his engagement. He will never be a physical monster, but he has to compete.

10 minutes left: Karlsson jukes O’Reilly to skate it out himself. He’s been fun to watch tonight.

Second too many men on the ice tonight for Sharks. What in the world? This will not put a smile on Bob’s face, he called out last game’s too many men first thing post-game, and earlier this season, he bench Gregor for offense.

Donato goal: Sorensen does nice job to recognize Donato out of box is fresh, drops it to the slumping sniper. Donato fires right when backcheck arrives. Been getting assists but snaps 20-game goalless slump.

That 20-game goalless slump was longest of Donato's career. Previous long was 13 last year

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 20, 2021

4 minutes left, liked Ferraro’s work. Makes a step to pinch in NZ, misses, quick turn, good gap on incoming Tarasenko and takes puck along wall. St. Louis forecheck on top of Ferraro as he circles net with puck, Tarasenko behind, Schenn in front, but Ferraro holds, waits out Schenn, able to get it to now-open Burns, exit.

Really liked this Ferraro (38) shift: Steps up on Tarasenko (91), misses. Quick turn, good gap, takes puck from man along wall. 2 #STLBlues forecheckers on top of MF as he circles net with puck, but MF holds, takes hit to make play to wide-open Burns (88), easy #SJSharks exit pic.twitter.com/VPbl5675hH

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 20, 2021

3 minutes left: Bortuzzo trying to come down with puck, Simek just plants himself in front of him, separates. Two strong guys getting together, Simek wins battle.

Period 3

2 minutes in: Good job by Gabriel to establish position in front, get a tip.

4 minutes in: So Knyzhov, in position like Leonard was earlier, just doesn’t get enough mustard on pass to Karlsson. Knyxhov had right idea, poor execution. Luckily, Sanford runs into Jones, goalie interference.

Clifford takes it off Couture’s stick behind net, then off Bozak’s body and in. Not a good San Jose Sharks PP. Part of messiness was Bortuzzo borderline late hit on Kane. But just borderline, not really that bad. Lethargic PP.

Gabriel called for 10-minute misconduct there, why? Something said to officials? No ensuing PP for Blues, so no harm, no foul, I guess?

7 minutes left: Defending Kane intercepts puck up high, but it skips, so he can’t go on breakaway. Bangs his stick against boards.

4 minutes left: Good energy by Sorensen to flag down puck, help keep it in zone for Vlasic shot. He’s had good, useful wheels tonight.

Ugly: Per SPORTLOGiQ, San Jose Sharks ceded 20 Slot Shots on Net tonight, All Situations, to Blues in first three periods. Only had seven such shots themselves.

It looks ugly: Per @SPORTLOGiQ, #SJSharks were outshot 20-7 from the slot tonight through 3 periods, All Situations. But Boughner drew an interesting distinction — basically, #SJSharks were in right places, they just missed net, made extra pass, or got blocked unlike #STLBlues: pic.twitter.com/bj9vMXyRgT

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 20, 2021

OT

Couture-Kane-Karlsson-Burns to start 4-on-3 PP after timeout. Snapshot of what Bob thinks is his go-to need a goal crew.

What was Karlsson doing there on that offside, 5 seconds left?