Karlsson Scores Late, But Spirited Sharks’ Effort Falls Short Against Avs

The San Jose Sharks welcomed the high-flying Colorado Avalanche into SAP Center tonight. The Sharks fell behind 4-0, but Jeffrey Viel and Rudolfs Balcers and Erik Karlsson goals made it interesting. However, despite a spirited effort, the Sharks fell 5-3 to the Avs.

Period 1

Middleton hangs with Compher, then releases and gets in front of shot from wall. Staunch defending.

5 in: San Jose Sharks engaged, but they can’t get anything going offensively against Avs. A lot of hope plays so far.

That doesn’t look like goalie interference — Meier runs into Francouz after puck is headed in — but it’s offside.

6 in: Barabanov does a great job eluding Manson, getting a call. Sneaky-strong and crafty.

Karlsson-Burns to start, then just Karlsson, then just Burns. Thus ends the Jake Middleton power play era in San Jose?

10 in: Gadjovich blocks Manson shot, then runs over him in failed quest to get puck. Good straight-line hockey from Gadj.

Beaut pass from Couture to Meier, but looks like Francouz gets it. Timo still looking for his first 5-on-5 goal since Jan. 17: https://t.co/dLcAxnQZIU

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 19, 2022

Going to start a Change.org petition for Middleton to never fight MacDermid again. 10-8 Kurtis.

8 left: Burns doesn’t take the shot, Nichushkin doing good job to stay in front of him, but then from corner, Burns zips a pass into Meier’s feet in front, Timo able to get a shot. Good hockey from Burns.

Helm goal: You can hear Karlsson yell, “Fuck!” as two Avs converge. Burakovsky shoots a stick that forces turnover. Karlsson doing too much and Avs take advantage.

4 left: This five-man unit of Vlasic-Meloche-Gadjovich-Reedy-Viel is going to have a tough time getting out of the zone with anything more than a dump-out. Some of the San Jose Sharks’ slower skaters there. Yup, Meloche glass and out, turnover.

Nifty Barabanov NZ pass springs Hertl, but he gets gummed up after gaining zone.

Meier’s got four of San Jose’s eight shots so far, he’s been buzzing.

Believe it or not: Avs 6-5 Slot Shots, 4-3 High-Danger at 5v5. After a slow start, the Sharks have actually played pretty well. But stop if you’ve heard this before — no finish.

Period 2

Karlsson has a beaut rush to start period, a little what can he do for you after his first period miscue? But handoff to Meier doesn’t click, Avs rush other way.

2 in: Then Karlsson follows with a highlight-reel high-to-low pass to Balcers that the youngster can’t put away. Balcers heels a gimme, give Francouz a chance on it.

5 in: Dahlen plays a little too much footsie there on PP. Between he, Meier, Karlsson someone’s got to shoot it there.

8 left: Alert stick by Francouz, Hertl had Couture walking down with a step on PP. Then Karlsson springs Barabanov for a rare power play breakaway, but Alex skies it.

3 left: Couture, Bonino had Francouz dead to rights on that PP. But nothing doing.

Viel scores #SJSharks first goal in 145:22

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 19, 2022

Good meat and potatoes hockey from that line.

Period 3

San Jose Sharks still playing hard — just don’t have the firepower.

Reedy getting a look with Couture and Meier. 6 in, Makar just buried Reedy in NZ.

10 left: Reedy’s gotta catch that NZ pass from Couture. Those are the basics of top-six, nay NHL play. He’s getting better, don’t want to be too hard on the kid.

7 left: Couture misses the pass, 2-on-1 going other way, but credit to him, down two, tracks back hard to even it up.

Karlsson goal: Hard Karlsson defending on Rantanen when the winger had a lane to empty net.