Sharks Give Away Boughner Bowl, Lose 7-4 to Red Wings

The San Jose Sharks welcome Bob Boughner and the Detroit Red Wings to SAP Center. Kevin Labanc and Matt Nieto got the Sharks on the board off beautiful Erik Karlsson assists. Logan Couture and Karlsson also scored, but the Sharks couldn’t tighten up, dropping a 7-4 decision.

Period 1

4 in: San Jose Sharks playing with a lot of confidence on power play right now. Holding onto pucks, making plays, finding the open man.

6 in: “Magic” Karlsson! What a no-look through-the-legs Karlsson pass to Labanc.

I'm going to remember tonight as the night that Erik Karlsson broke Twitter with a no-look between-the-legs drop pass to Kevin Labanc

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 18, 2022

Hronek goal: Karlsson giveth, Karlsson taketh away. Karlsson turns it over, but the real sin is probably Meier letting Hronek in back door, Perron finds him. It is Perron, so wonder if he tricked Meier with his eyes, Perron is a great playmaker. But Sharks still learning to be a good team, they had Wings by the throat to start the game, now they’ve let them back in.

Nieto goal: Another perfect pass by Karlsson, then Nieto takes it to the house. Great effort by Nieto, first time that he’s scored in back-to-back games since Jan. 2021.

Karlsson staying ahead: #SJSharks scoring record through first 19 team games WAS Nolan with 25 points in 1999-00. EK65 at 26 and counting

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 18, 2022

4 left: What a save by Reimer on Larkin, who snuck behind Sharks PK. Then fantastic play by Couture on Perron, classic Western Conference match-up, just gets under Perron’s stick, forces it out, then holds the puck calmly for a couple seconds with no Wings around to kill time. What a defensive play.

3 left: Barabanov makes Maatta look silly. Can’t complete play, but what a play it was.

That’s some of the most confident offensive hockey that I’ve seen from the San Jose Sharks in a long time.

Sharks 4-0 Slot Shots at Even Strength.

Period 2

2 in: Crisp first pass from Cicek to Kunin. It’s a legit skill of his.

4 in: Good urgency by Barabanov to close down point.

6 in: Extended test for Sharks’ zone D, bend don’t break from Couture line. But they have to get on the attack again, this is too long. Then Sturm line can’t get any momentum going either, ends with Bonino penalty. Another big test for San Jose Sharks now.

They just showed Bob Boughner on the scoreboard, and it seemed like #SJSharks fans didn't know what to do, there were some boos, some cheers, but nothing really strong either way

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 18, 2022

10 in: Karlsson almost connects with Hertl in front on a pretty play. Cicek helped start it with a clever behind-the-back breakout.

Perron goal: This was coming, not necessarily a great chance here, long shot deflection past Reimer, but more, Red Wings have had run of play in this period. Sharks were the aggressors in 1st, Wings strike back here.

7 left: Meier then Hertl with turnovers right on OZ entry, at the line. That’s a moment, this isn’t first period and you’re feeling it, get it deep and go to work. Sharks messing around in this period.

6 in: But credit where it’s due, that line rallies back with great chances for Labanc, Meier.

Walman goal: Time and place, nice to get a stop.

1 left: Barabanov a pest on the puck to close period.

Period 3

1 in: Nice play by Cicek, absorbs contact, makes next pass under duress.

Veleno goal: That hurts. Reimer gets caught cheating on one side, Veleno stuffs in wraparound. Maybe Lindblom needs more urgency to cover breakdown.

Couture goal: Great Hertl shift gets Sharks going.

Karlsson goal: Set play? Guess that was a shot-pass headed for Hertl that went off a Wing.

Seider goal: You just need a stop.

Suter goal: Well, all the Sharks, including Karlsson, outcompeted there. Reimer looks bad too, of course, but he was hung out to dry there.