Notes #29: Sharks Dumped Donato, Donato Dumps Them 3-1

The San Jose Sharks welcomed the expansion Seattle Kraken into SAP Center for the first time. Ex-Shark Ryan Donato scored the opening goal and the Kraken pulled out a 3-1 victory. Logan Couture scored the lone San Jose goal.

Period One

One in: Meier just takes it from Larsson with authority. Next shift, like that Dahlen stick lift on Seattle slot chance.

Three in: Now Meier on Oleksiak. Wow. Just takes it at will.

Four in: Karlsson turns it over high in OZ, can’t get back in time, but Reimer bails him out.

Nine left: Unimpressive shift by Pederson, who looks like he’s wearing a Michael Keaton Batman mask — i.e. can’t move his neck to see puck at his feet a couple times. Tough shift for him.

Six left: Dahlen kicks it up to his stick after a hard stretch pass — that was a beaut. Would say, wish he went for the shot there instead of a missed pass back up the trailer.

Four left: Burns has it a couple times up high, doesn’t shoot. Seattle close on the point. That frees up Gregor, who fires it too hard cross-slot, turnover. Don’t love that.

Two left: Example of new Sharks defense — in DZ, there’s a 50-50, Hertl doesn’t lean to fly for stretch pass — he leans back to defend.

Period Two

One area for #SJSharks to clean up: Per SPORTLOGiQ, #SeaKraken have 5-1 Odd-Man Rushes edge in a mostly quiet offensive 1st for both teams. Sharks trying a lot of hope cross-slot passes on entry — great if they connect, catnip for counterattack if they don't

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2021

Three in: Great work by third line, Larsson literally robbed Nieto at goal line.

Four in: Not sure why Meier let that puck go along the wall. He did get off right after shift, maybe tired — but Kraken eat puck up.

Five in: Simek gets inside on rushing Tanev. Nice recovery.

Ten in: Another solid shift by Nieto and company. Cogliano steals up high, tosses it down for Nieto to win, which he does.

This period, I’ll say Timo trying too many hope passes in this period. Want a little more BAD MOTHER FUCKER from Timo, go to the net. We know he’s got it in him.

Six left: Good work by Gadjovich. Receives stretch, stays strong on his feet, gets hauled down.

Scouts were telling me Pederson was pretty good on the power play flank in Tucson — let’s see if that translates here at all. He is on his one-timer side.

Two left: Nifty wall to middle breakout pass from Couture to Gregor. Gregor then cuts through three zones like butter. Then next time down the ice, Gregor doesn’t go for easy shot (which probably gets blocked), pulls back and wires it. Better decision-making there. There’s something to work with here.

Period Three

Simek has a game-high eight hits through two periods — Larsson second-closest with five

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2021

Five in: Good read by Simek to jump up. I’ve liked him tonight.

Six in: Okay I take that back LOL. Seriously, rough luck for Simek. Play started with Gadjovich unable to get puck deep. That’s second time this period, neutral zone, he’s got to get it deep. Don’t want to scapegoat one guy, but that’s a must play in his role. Seattle counterattacks from there.

Eight in: A little early for Dahlen to gamble there, but that allows Seattle two-on-one.

Six left: Great play by Kraken, but Ferraro can’t let that pass through.