Burns Returns, Canes Grind Sharks Down 2-1

The San Jose Sharks welcome Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes into SAP Center for their unofficial home opener. Evgeny Svechnikov got the Sharks off to a quick start, but the Canes kept grinding the Sharks down, outshooting the home side 16-4 in the middle frame. Sebastian Aho deflected the late game-winner, and the Sharks ruined a spectacular James Reimer performance.

GOTTA SEE IT: Sharks Honor Burns with Stirring Video Tribute

Period 1

6 in: In a sight familiar to San Jose Sharks fans, an attacker (Nieto) enters with a step, but Burns’s long, aggressive stick swipes it away.

7 in: Not Karlsson’s finest shift, not precise with puck at all.

9 in: Canes have done a good job keeping Sharks to outside, case in point there, Gregor with speed but Skjei step for step with him, keeping him to outside. Gregor does have a moment of daylight, centering pass to Svechnikov, but it doesn’t connect.

8 left: Simek goes right off for tripping Jarvis, no complaints from him, though fans don’t like it.

7 left: Lorentz pickpockets Teravainen from behind on PK.

6 left: Might’ve been San Jose Sharks’ first 5-on-5 inner slot shot from Hertl there.

4 left: Gregor’s had a strong period, but that NZ turnover wasn’t it. Leads to Canes chance, which Reimer erases, Megna does a good job to recover and force shot from outside.

Svechnikov goal, Evgeny edition: Would bet Raanta would want that back. Hey, take your gifts. Maybe de Haan knuckled the shot.

#SJSharks not getting much, but credit to them, not giving up much either. Per SPORTLOGiQ, Canes 3-2 Slot Shots, 2-1 Odd-man Rushes

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 15, 2022

Period 2

San Jose Sharks off to strong start in this period. Meier dangerous deflection in slot off forecheck, then Couture line gets a power play.

PP2 had a decent start on zone entries in Prague, but another tough one leads to Kunin whistle.

4 in: Sturm pressures Burns, Couture jumps in, bet the captain would’ve loved to have popped that home.

7 in: Labanc doesn’t get it in deep, not just his fault, not a pretty breakout between Ferraro and Simek, Canes turn around quick 3-on-2.

9 in: A little pond hockey here. Sharks have to button down again.

Canes 10-0 shots so far in middle frame

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 15, 2022

8 left: Meier moves the needle for Sharks there though.

7 left: Brilliant set-up by Karlsson of Labanc, KLB can’t finish though. PP2 ain’t cutting it tonight though. Sharks need PP2 to have some positive momentum, not kill it. Not happening tonight, they may be best served calling someone up specifically to help in that area, it’s that bad.

4 left: Poor shift from Sturm, who misses two chances to at least get it out.

Necas goal: Necas have been all over the play in this game, been close a couple other times to scoring. Svechnikov (Andrei edition) pickpockets Labanc in NZ, second major KLB turnover in middle of the ice, Necas does the rest.

That was coming: Canes kept grinding, Sharks, except for one power play and shift before it, had literally nothing in this period except for "Leave It to Reimer". CAR 16-4 shots

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 15, 2022

Period 3

Meier enters slowly, tries to pass through Burns to Hertl, but Burns says no. Burns looks like Burns out there tonight.

Staal just manhandles Bonino off PP draw, clear. Another listless PP.

4 in: Sturm will rue that miss, I think.

7 in: Huge moment here, Sharks on their heels, time to PK.

3 left: Hertl speed, but again, Sharks kept to outside.

Aho goal: Karlsson does a poor job of tying up Aho’s stick net front. I know Karlsson is not a bull in front, but Aho isn’t Jordan Staal either.

(UPDATE: David Pollak noted that Aho re-directed the Pesce shot here. Good eye! We can still argue about Aho getting positioning there to do that, but the error isn’t as egregious)