Top Prospects Eklund, Mukhamadullin Connect in Sharks’ 4-2 Loss to Ducks

The San Jose Sharks welcome in the Anaheim Ducks for their second pre-season game.

William Eklund and Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss.

Period 1

2 in: Zetterlund with some time and space, decides to give it back to point, misses pass, turnover. Use that body, get in there for a chance, I say.

Leason goal: Halttunen turnover, coming up with Sturm. Cicek seemed to bite too hard on loose puck too, he had no chance at it, perhaps should’ve absorbed rush, instead of leaving I guess Knyzhov in the wind on 2-on-1.

Zellweger goal: Rough exchange between Carpenter and Cicek in center ice. Carpenter turnover, but I think Cicek might have put him in a tough spot. Then a long Zellweger shot finds daylight through a lot of traffic.

10 left: Don’t love this Halttunen play, coming out of his own corner, has some time and space behind net, uncovered Knyzhov available at left dot, he instead opts to try to rim the puck out hard, try to clear it, I guess. But he doesn’t get enough mustard on it, too easy turnover in zone. He had space to skate and do something with his defenseman, I think. But instead, he appeared to bail out. Eklund and Sturm bail him out by swarming White along the wall, forcing the puck out.

9 left: Carpenter-Lindblom-Vlasic-Ferraro to start PK, then Sturm-Eklund. But then Agozzino scores.

7 left: Interesting Mukhamadullin sequence, awkward skating backing up on OZ faceoff, but then, he closes going forward, maybe surprises Perreault with puck, good pinch. Carrick gets it and wants to pull away, but Mukhamadullin’s recovery speed makes it hard and Vlasic able to slide over and kill it.

4 left: Mukhamadullin going for puck in corner, Vatrano beelines and gives him a good shot. Welcome to the NHL moment but in pre-season.

3 left: Gawanke uncomfortable after big block on Leason, but remains on bench.

1 left: Aimless Ducks pass in zone, Mukhamadullin jumps up to carry the puck, hits Labanc to get rush going. Exciting transition. San Jose Sharks hoping for many years of that from Muk.

Period 2

Looks like Cicek has moved up with Ferraro, Gawanke now with Knyzhov.

2 in: Regenda gets around Gawanke to try to stuff it in. Doesn’t look like Gawanke was able to get a good defensive angle to cut off the incursion.

3 in: I’ve liked Eklund tonight, but he got careless with the puck, losing it to forechecking Strome in own zone, trying to come out. Gotta live and learn from that.

5 in: While backing up under pressure, smooth D-to-D pass from Gawanke to Knyzhov. Sets up chance.

7 in: 4-on-3 power play for San Jose Sharks, Eklund-Sturm-Labanc-Mukhamadullin.

Eklund goal: Gotta love that, Muk to Ek one-timer, that’s a welcome sight for fans.

🚨 WILLIAM EKLUND 🚨 pic.twitter.com/w1oyOXtUrt

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) September 27, 2023

8 in: First 5-on-4 power play, Eklund-Labanc-Robins-Peterson-Mukhamadullin. Then Gawanke-Halttunen-Cardwell-Sturm-Zetterlund.

Peterson is a guy that I’ve been looking for some plays from, halfway through game, haven’t seen much yet.

Looks like Zetterlund and Halttunen have flip-flopped lines too, Zetterlund up with Eklund-Sturm. That’s about right, Halttunen not ready for this stage yet.

Period 3

Vlasic goal: Actually gotta give Cardwell a lot of credit for that, though he wasn’t on the ice for shot. Great back and forth effort from Cardwell, punctuated by a diving backcheck that prevented Ducks Grade-A chance, Vlasic and Sturm were able to turn it around and go other way.

9 in: Robins’s forecheck effort forces turnover, Labanc finds Cardwell in front for a golden chance.

9 left: Mukhamadullin steps up at blueline to cut off entry, causes offside, like.

6 left: Labanc has had a pretty good game, elevated to top line in crunchtime.