Sharks Lose 3-1 to Canes in Cagnoni’s NHL Debut

The San Jose Sharks welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes into SAP Center.

William Eklund scored, but the Sharks lost 3-1.

Period 1

2 in: Cagnoni’s first NHL shift, nice little pause with puck behind net, takes a beat before getting it over to Desharnais, Canes forechecker in between.

3 in: Toe save by Romanov, a beaut. Good start to his first start.

5 in: Roslovic on the forecheck eat ups Cagnoni, who had puck. Those kind of situations will be a big test for him.

9 in: Good effort by Grundstrom to take it to the net. Then Cagnoni quick up pass to Grundstrom leads to some fourth-line chaos in front of Andersen, good shift. Previously, San Jose Sharks stretch passes have been getting picked off tonight.

10 in: Canes forecheck eating up Cagnoni-Desharnais and the fourth line off DZ draw, big Romanov save on Blake. Leads to Ostapchuk taking a tired penalty, after a minute on the ice, they’re able to exit, and Ostapchuk makes a pass that he’ll learn that he can’t make at this level, it’s picked off, and he takes a tired desperation defending hook. Ostapchuk was on the ice for 2:04, first half good, second half ugh.

Eklund goal: Not sure how that counted? But Brind’Amour didn’t challenge. Best guess is, Burns tripped Eklund into Andersen, so somehow, Andersen has to stop the puck and the Canes-created asteroid coming at him? I mean, logically, that doesn’t look like a goal, but whatever. Also, Burns still scoring goals for the Sharks! Credit also to Dellandrea for digging to puck out to spring the 2-on-1.

Short-handed goal for San Jose!

Scored by William Eklund with 07:00 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Ty Dellandrea.

San Jose: 1
Carolina: 0#CARvsSJS #TheFutureIsTeal #RaiseUp pic.twitter.com/v0xTq7HOzD

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 21, 2025

The trip made the contact ok and the puck went in. I am having to watch the hurricanes broadcast being in South Carolina —- they thought it was the right call.

— swusc (@S_Williams_Jr) March 21, 2025

2 left: Kind of a sloppy game for the Sharks, but they haven’t been burnt yet. A lot of guess passes that I bet will be addressed in between periods. But anyway, Eklund draws a call there, attacking the middle of the ice, off Wennberg feed.

San Jose Sharks lucky to have the lead, they’ve been careless with the puck for most of the period. Romanov with some big saves, let’s see if they can clean it up rest of the way to pull off the upset.

Period 2

A little bit of a statement, I think, that Warsofsky runs second power play unit to start period, 48 seconds to go, Liljegren-Mukhamadullin-Eklund-Graf-Kovalenko. I mean, could be just to have two defensemen out there as power play transitions to 5-on-5. So maybe I’m reading a little too much into it. But the power play to end first was nothing to write home about. Sharks have to make the passes that are there.

3 in: Cagnoni nice reverse against flow, forecheck incoming, gets it in deep for Sharks to jump on.

5 in: Have to watch more, but Canes seem to do a good job of making you think a stretch pass is there, and closing the door right when the puck is arriving.

6 in: That’s a gorgeous backhand feed from Celebrini high to Graf low, manipulates Canes defense, finds that lane to Graf, big Andersen save. I think Celebrini has been careless with the puck tonight more so than usual, but that’s a get you out of your seats pass.

8 in: Huge Grundstrom block on Orlov point shot, then he hunts down Orlov on the forecheck, wins the puck. That should help him stay in the line-up.

9 in: Grade-A Smith chance off Eklund pass, started with a Liljegren stretch to Wennberg, not forced, the pass that was there.

Jarvis goal: Starts with clear-cut Ferraro possession on exit, but he forces a pass to Celebrini that is intercepted. Then Mukhamadullin gets harassed by Canes forecheck, puck lands to Jarvis in the slot. Bad hockey. Remenda focusing on the Mukhamadullin part in the goal, that’s legit, but Ferraro’s turnover on a routine exit, just one forechecker between him and Celebrini, that’s really unacceptable. Ferraro doesn’t feel the Cane forechecker coming from behind, seems like he thought he had a routine connection with Celebrini.

Blake no-goal: San Jose Sharks luck out. Easy to blame Ferraro, but he’s got a clear path up with the puck. There’s no reason for him to turn back. When Ferraro enters the zone, there’s not enough awareness from a forward to cover for him. I think that’s Eklund there who’s in the center lane. They left Mukhamadullin in a bad position, facing an outnumbered attack. Admittedly too though, Mukhamadullin should’ve just hung back to play the 2-on-1. He tried to kill the pass but wasn’t even close. Not a great read in a tough situation.

6 left: That Liljegren exit pass to Graf, intercepted, exactly what I’m talking about, looks good coming up the ice, I’m sure, but leading to waves of counterattack. Can’t do that.

4 left: That’s not a bad cross-ice pass on entry by Celebrini, but Canes stick right there. Sharks need to play more north-south.

Sharks should be down more, hopefully they get some basic hockey going. Credit to Romanov, who’s been solid.

Period 3

Aho goal: Out of the corner, Mukhamadullin gets beat by Blake, wrong side of him, who hits Aho with the slot pass. Aho just rifles it. Rough game for Mukhamadullin in some ways, maybe the trend is that he’s having trouble with tougher competition. Has had trouble against the best teams, even in this recent better stretch of play.

7 in: Pretty bounce stretch pass from Cagnoni to Wennberg. Perfect velocity, Wennberg receives in stride.

9 left: Celebrini deferring quite a bit tonight, in the slot, delayed penalty, opts for a pass, turnover. Turnover no big because it just gets the Sharks’ PP out there, but nonetheless. Celebrini has attempted at least two shots in every game this year, none so far tonight. Then to end PP shift, he tries a telegraphed cross-slot pass to other flank Smith, deflected and out.

7 left: Beaut Mukhamadullin stretch to Grundstrom, but the forward is stopped up on entry.

Walker goal: San Jose Sharks just can’t kill the play off DZ faceoff loss.

3 left: Celebrini’s first shot attempt of the game. He hasn’t had a game with less than 2 shot attempts this season.