Blackwood Makes 51 Saves, Bordeleau Scores 1st NHL Goal in Sharks’ 2-1 Shootout Loss

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Colorado Avalanche in SAP Center.

Thomas Bordeleau scored his first NHL goal, Mackenzie Blackwood made 51 saves, but the Sharks lost 2-1 in the shootout.

Period 1

The San Jose Sharks start the game with two turnovers, which is not the way they want to go. Zadina doesn’t test taking the puck down low, instead, pulls up for a pretty play to Hertl, nope.

Like Kunin’s NZ pass there and he gets a good shot on.

2 in: Love that Smith battle vs. Manson, turns a Colorado NZ puck to San Jose OZ territory. Nothing comes from it, but that’s good battle from Smith. Quinn praised the fourth line as the Sharks’ best last game, and I agree. North-south, direct, and strong. Hopefully, the Sharks’ other lines heed the call tonight.

Despite the Avs’ Harlem Globetrotters’ like control of the puck on that first PP, I liked a lot of Ferraro on that kill. Closes quick and aggressive.

7 in: I’m tough on Peterson, but a couple sneaky-good plays by him, entry pass for Eklund that has right touch, then a slot pass that looks like Eklund has a in-tight chance.

Bordeleau goal: Credit to Hoffman, his hustle gets puck to Benning at the point. Then Bordeleau shows off his high-end hand-eye. First NHL goal!

THOMAS BORDELEAU SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 👏 pic.twitter.com/ADgwGDyj8t

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 15, 2023

10 in: But then, not a good-looking tripping penalty on Smith.

Huge save by Blackwood on Lehkonen in slot. He’s been good.

Looks like Hertl is in with Zadina as second-choice forward PK’ers. After Sturm and Kunin. Ferraro-Benning, then Vlasic-Rutta.

7 left: Knyzhov breaks his stick, but good effort on other end to block/misdirect Avs shot.

4 left: Long defensive shift for San Jose Sharks, but structure looked good. But icing.

3 left: Another big Blackwood save with help from defenseman getting puck behind goalie. Sharks defensive breakdown though. Looks like Peterson can’t handle Rantanen up top, that’s tough, then MacKinnon roars in unchecked for a Grade-A.

1 left: Another incredible Blackwood save, strong side-to-side pad prevents a stuff. Hopefully, he starts to get some help from his team.

Period 2

1 in: After a good Blackwood pass up to Bordeleau, Bordeleau gets hit hard by Wood, run into the top corner of the dasher board. He’s really hurt, helped off. Hope he’s OK, what a high-low in a game where you’ve also scored your first NHL goal.

Bordeleau comes out for the power play, great news.

5 in: More good, direct hockey from Sturm line.

6 in: Kunin has had so many chances this season. He’s putting himself in good position, that’s the good news. Great pass by Peterson and Kunin makes great read to charge the middle of the ice.

9 left: Zetterlund has a golden chance. San Jose Sharks still being badly outshot, but a little more spark in this period, the better of the chances maybe.

7 left: Good cycle, good forecheck from Hertl, Kunin, and Barabanov. Haven’t seen a ton of that from San Jose Sharks tonight.

Sturm-Ferraro-Benning lead 5-on-3 kill. Great kill.

Period 3

This is actually Mackenzie Blackwood's 1st career start at SAP Center. He's putting on a show so far!

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 15, 2023

4 in: Bordeleau does good job to meet Cogliano on Avs breakout, then Eklund blocks shot and is effective on the forecheck…but nothing doing. Good effort but it’s all defense from the San Jose Sharks.

6 in: Good Kunin shift. Gets it out, then comes back quick on defense. Then hits Barabanov for a partial breakaway, Barabanov draws a penalty.

7 in: That Duclair one-timer on power play is San Jose Sharks’ first shot of the period.

8 in: I think Bordeleau has had a rough time tonight as a drop option on the PP breakout.

9 in: Sharp Zadina set-up of Kunin, two games, he’s been one of few Sharks with consistent offensive pop.

10 in: Jesus, what a Blackwood save on Makar.

Blackwood gets a thunderous round of applause from #SJSharks fans…this has not been a goalie norm at SAP Center in recent years pic.twitter.com/sZDZf4IAr3

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 15, 2023

7 left: Corsi obviously isn’t everything, but right now, Rutta has 4 shot attempts for, 34 against at 5-on-5.

5 left: Duclair heated, perhaps because he thinks Drouin deflected Hertl icing. Doesn’t win argument.

4 left: Really good battle win by Rutta there though, on Olofsson.

OT

Sturm-Duclair-Knyzhov to start. But Sturm comes off quick for Hertl, Sturm just out there for draw.

Great Zetterlund effort, draws call. In pain though after kneeing.

Hertl-Eklund-Hoffman-Duclair on 4-on-3 PP. Imprecise Duclair puck movement.

1 left: Good Bordeleau strip. But then, he gets called for a hold on MacKinnon. Never had a chance.

Great extra effort by Sturm to the end.