Notes #47: Kane Gets Last Laugh, Oilers Shut Out Sharks 3-0

The San Jose Sharks welcome back Evander Kane to SAP Center, a little more than a month after the Sharks terminated his contract. But Kane got the last laugh tonight, as his new mates shut out the Sharks 3-0.

Period One

There were a smattering of boos when Kane’s name was announced in the starting line-up.

Meier one-timer on PP, rare one-time from San Jose Sharks power play.

Four in: Gadjovich on forecheck, he tosses it to Dahlen left by himself in front. Good FC.

First meaningful interaction between Kane and the Sharks: Kane gives Hertl a hard hit in the corner.

Foegele goal: That’s rough insofar as Sharks were off to a great start, two or three Grade-A chances. Oilers leaky defensively. Looks like point shot got deflected a couple times.

Nurse goal: Faceoff win, Meloche doesn’t tie up the stick in front on point shot. They gave it to Nurse from the point — if that holds, unacceptable goal allowed from Reimer.

I stand corrected — thought Reimer should've had the Nurse shot, but it was deflected: https://t.co/RKzwENyn9m

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

For a small crowd, the boo birds are pretty loud for Kane as he touches the puck for the first time

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

Nine in: Fat rebound up the middle allowed by Reimer there. He stops the putback, but he’s gotta pick it up.

Eight left: Cogliano just misses a routine breakout pass to Nieto. Seems like there’s some rust there.

Seven left: Ceci does good work to body off Couture from puck. Not a popular figure in analytics community, but that kind of stuff is why he keeps getting a job.

Kane is getting booed each time he touches the puck.

Nurse penalty: Well, the Oilers can keep taking penalties if the Sharks power play doesn’t make them pay.

Five left: I like Gregor, but he’s been bad tonight. Not precise at all moving puck.

Three left: Reimer had what looked like an easy hold, flubs it. Sharks just don’t look sharp so far. Not shocking, of course, but a scoring-starved team has a big deficit to make up.

OZ faceoff, two minutes left, back-up Sawchenko in, smart coaching by Woodcroft, he throws McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins over the boards.

Period Two

Meloche just gave Kane a hard bump, crowd responded with a cheer, Kane got up and took a look at the number

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

Forgot to note: Sharks haven't played badly tonight, up 3-2 Slot Shots. But a deflection and one Reimer might want back, they're down 2-0 and it's a same-as-it-ever was story for San Jose, can they score their way out of this?

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

It’s a hold on Hertl, but surprised they called that with Sharks already down a man.

Three in: Great individual play by Burns to take puck away on Oilers 5-on-3. Then Cogliano gets a key stick in. Back to a one-man advantage.

Reimer coming up large on this Oilers PP. Qucik rebound gets back to Nurse at point, smart point shot as Nurse fires rapidly to take advantage on chaos, Reimer comes up with it.

Kane shot rides up, hits Meloche in face, Kane gives Meloche a stick tap as the defenseman heads off the ice for a look

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

Seven in: Good DZ battle win along wall by Pederson, gets it to open man.

Meier takes a frustration slash after getting called for tripping, called for rare double minor for two different penalties there. That’s a ref making an example of him. He has to be more mature, but that’s a one penalty call in my mind. The second call, he has to do something more serious than slashing a guy’s stick out of his hands in the NZ.

Balcers goes into room after blocking a shot. Left glove was off

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

#SJSharks outshot 14-2 in second period despite have a power play

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

Period Three

Rudolfs Balcers doesn’t come out for the third period.

Crowd may still be booing Kane, but they should be booing a #SJSharks offense that has generated six shots in the last 30 minutes

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 15, 2022

It’s hard to imagine Hertl watching this and thinking this team is close. Stranger things have happened, but the San Jose Sharks, game as they’ve been this season, just don’t seem to have enough scoring talent now and in the near-future.

Now 40 shots on Reimer, at least his save percentage will come out rosy tonight.

No acknowledgment for Kane on the jumbotron tonight — don’t think they showed him all night.