Notes #25: Sharks Close Out Good Trip with Bad 6-4 Loss

COLUMBUS — The San Jose Sharks — holy shit that was a cannon blast, my first one — we’re a couple minutes before the National Anthem lol. Anyway, the Sharks have a good chance to beat this team, make this an outstanding road trip. Their micro-stats are underwhelming — they do accrue a lot of chances on the rush, so something for the Sharks to watch.

Period One

Minute in: That’s not the way to start though. Hertl high, blind pass to Karlsson on entry, picked off. Bjorkstrand comes back and hits the post. Then Cogliano has a golden chance, skies it? Need to bury. Granted, Cogliano created chance with timely up-ice pressure in NZ.

Two in: Lovely extended give-and-go sequence. Karlsson gives it to Barabanov who enters, drops to Hertl, who returns back to Karlsson attacking slot. Karlsson misses his shot there, hits Merzlikins.

Five in: Danforth forecheck all over Karlsson. That’s one I think Karlsson would’ve escaped in his prime. San Jose fights back to get it, but then Karlsson pass to Labanc clanks off into middle of the ice. Karlsson didn’t help him insofar as Labanc was under immediate fire with pass, but plays like that also keep Labanc relegated. You don’t want that puck turned over in the slot.

Ten in: Gregor turnover on entry. He’s shown great speed, but that has to happen less.

Nine left: Simek blocks attempted rim out, finds Couture coming down slot. Good teamwork, vision there.

Eight left: Long Karlsson to Pederson stretch, Pederson does good job keeping it alive until he can return to Karlsson.

Six left: Good work by Nieto to cover for attacking Karlsson, then when Jackets set up, he’s back out attacking point with vigor. Energetic two-hundred foot shift.

Boqvist goal: Fourth line hemmed in again. Weatherby has a chance to advance it up, I still feel he has to play faster. Labanc goes back again grain on wall after a tough Simek pass, but in his defense, his turnover along the wall. Hill probably needs to have it, but also a great shot.

Bonino goal: Good dump and pursuit between Bonino and Cogliano. Then Nieto just puts it on net, Bonino beats Bean to loose puck.

Period Two

The San Jose Sharks had a great opening frame but only a tied game to show for it:

By my eye, I thought #SJSharks played a very good period, save for a slow start. SPORTLOGiQ supports that, SJS had a 9-2 Slot Shots advantage in the first period. Meier had four of those.

Clutch for Bonino to score at the end there, so SJS goes into room feeling good

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 5, 2021

Meier and Gregor had nine of the San Jose Sharks’ 19 first period shots.

Karlsson goal: Good net front by Gregor.

Kuraly goal: Shit luck for Ferraro. Puck bounced on him at point. Then he and Burns switched, Ferraro took the Jacket steaming toward net, but Kuraly pass deflects off Ferraro in front.

Two in: Like that Barabanov pickpocket on Gavrikov.

Four in: Meier is stood up coming in, but what I liked? He was denied a path to the net, but he kept going, got it to Couture on other side. Not sure that happens last year.

Burns goal: San Jose Sharks have controlled play tonight. Jackets lucky that Sharks lack finish, Hill gave up an OK goal, and Ferraro had some bad luck. At this rate, would be a disappointment if the Sharks don’t come out of here with two points.

Sillinger goal: I know it’s a two-on-one, but Ferraro takes away pass, you need a clutch save from Hill there. I’ll give a little more of a pass on the Boqvist because that was a phenomenal shot, the Sillinger one, a good one, but you need to come up with the big save there.

Period Three

One in: Barabanov has loose puck high in DZ, like his decision to go off boards on forehand, instead of tough backhand to advancing but contested forward on other side. Live to fight another day.

Roslovic goal: Bonino and Karlsson get caught in NZ, wondering who’s got Roslovic. For the record, I think that’s Karlsson’s man. Then Hill gets smoked.

Hertl taking draw between Meier and Dahlen, so that's a change. The goal was on the fly. Looks like Couture with Barabanov and Gregor

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 6, 2021

Interesting variations of above: Labanc took Dahlen’s place on one shift. Burns and Karlsson united on another Hertl-Meier shift.