Sharks Locker Room: Duclair on Teams Taking San Jose ‘Lightly’, Meier Reacts to Loss

The San Jose Sharks scored as many road goals tonight as they have in the previous two months combined.

The Sharks doubled up the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center 6-3, snapping their 0-10-0 October and November road skid to start the season. And it’s still unbelievable to write this – San Jose had scored just six goals in their first 10 road games.

Despite the lopsided score, this didn’t feel like a Sharks rout at all. New Jersey outshot them 47-18, Kaapo Kahkonen responding with 44 saves. In the final frame, the Finn stopped 21-of-23 shots.

The Devils got their due though, their carelessness with the puck and sloppy defensive coverage consigning them to this Hell: The self-styled Stanley Cup contenders just lost to the worst team in the NHL at home.

“We gave them stuff,” Timo Meier said. “We’d make a mistake, they were kind of waiting for [it].”

“I felt good on the ice, but it was a hard loss for us.”

Hear from Simon Nemec, Timo Meier, Akira Schmid and Lindy Ruff following tonight's game.

Meier: https://t.co/afM5ryVoNA
Schmid: https://t.co/D6lkIKG6pd
Ruff: https://t.co/ohI4LIkX7c
Nemec ⤵️#NJDevils | @Genucel pic.twitter.com/xMLbdprtZ4

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 2, 2023

The 40-goal winger, acquired by the Devils from the Sharks last January, was the first victim of San Jose’s goal-scoring parade, when he was checked off the puck by MacDonald.

MacDonald gets the Sharks on the board first 👏 pic.twitter.com/MukMDUxGQV

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 2, 2023

Both MacDonald and Anthony Duclair scored a pair of goals, while Mikael Granlund and William Eklund added a goal apiece for the victors.

Granlund, in particular, shone tonight. Duclair said this Granlund feed was one of the top-three passes that he’s ever received in his life.

Just want to praise Mikael Granlund again here with the whole clip…

-Hard backcheck
-Defensive zone takeaway
-Feeds the breakout
-Neutral zone takeaway
-Primary assist (and a beauty)

That shift is a coach’s dream. #SJSharks https://t.co/TCvfgB4kr7 pic.twitter.com/ptBljT8r6m

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) December 2, 2023

“My own game, overall, has been way better lately,” Granlund said.

Granlund on what went right after his big three-point night 🥅 pic.twitter.com/x69B28vooY

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 2, 2023

The center has two goals and four assists in his last four games, three of those San Jose victories, including, finally, a road tally.

“It was obviously a big topic of conversation before every road game,” Duclair said. “Teams are going to take us lightly, for us, it’s just having that work ethic, surprising some teams here.”

The Duke reflects on his two-goal game in tonight's win over the Devils ⚡

Sharks Postgame Live is airing now on NBC Sports California and streaming here: https://t.co/0kztbytFNn pic.twitter.com/ZAapsTogAL

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 2, 2023

For once, it’s not San Jose doing some soul-searching after an unacceptable loss.

“Just got to look in the mirror and clean some stuff up,” Meier said of New Jersey. “We got a lot of talent on this team, but talent is not gonna get you far, you gotta work as well.”

David Quinn talks Team Teal's gutsy first road win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D0cfngl9Mr

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 2, 2023

“Just happy for our guys,” San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn said. “It’s been a tough go, especially on the road and to find a way to win the way we did is a tribute to our team.”

“Obviously not happy to lose to my old team,” Meier said.