Karlsson Sets NHL Scoring Record, But Sharks Lose in Shootout

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Florida Panthers into town, as Rudolfs Balcers makes his return. The Panthers drew first and second blood, but Timo Meier got the Sharks on the board. Then, Erik Karlsson and Matt Benning scored

Period 1

Couture does good job of filling in defensively for Benning, there’s no 2-on-1 because of that.

1 in: Shoot, Tomas!

3 in: Strong Couture line forecheck shift. Nieto finds Megna for a rainbow road chance. San Jose Sharks on top of Panthers so far tonight.

6 in: Karlsson does nice job negotiating out of DZ corner, 2 Panthers sniffing on forecheck. He’s ever calm with that.

8 in: Just exchanging chances, it feels like, Reimer keeping his team in it.

Kunin major: I get the onus on the player thing, and in that way, I guess you can’t argue the call. Hornqvist was reaching for puck and vulnerable. But that’s a tough call. No way that’s called as a major I think even a couple years ago. I doubt Kunin has a call about it, my opinion.

Credit to #SJSharks PK, one goal allowed on a major isn't bad

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

5 left: Sharks need a reset, Reimer has to bail them out as Karlsson left with a 2-on-1 in front. Big save on Reinhart. Maybe major unfair, get over it.

1 left: Karlsson misses a rare open lead pass. Missed Nieto on a possible rush opportunity. He looks disappointed in himself.

San Jose Sharks outshot 19-9, but a lot of it was that major. Way closer 5-on-5, though Panthers still have advantage. Per Natural Stat Trick, Florida 22-15 Shot Attempts, 12-8 Scoring Chances, 4-4 High-Danger at 5-on-5. They could be out of this game, but they’re not. Let’s see how they respond.

Period 2

BREAKING: Kunin Ejected for Check to Head

Sharks have outshot Panthers 9-1 so far in 2nd

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

9 in: But Sharks don’t clean up in front, Tkachuk pounces on a loose puck, but Reimer!

7 left: Incredible Karlsson backhand area pass to Hertl, just perfect placement to keep rush going.

6 left: Icing, but Labanc with a good effort to try to get to it. Good effort so far from him.

Gudas goal: I think Couture deflects it.

3 left: Sharks can’t lose the script, that wasn’t a strong shift. Reimer with a couple saves.

Sharks have played a pretty good 5-on-5 game tonight, but they need someone other than Karlsson to score.

1 left: Man, Hertl just can’t buy one now. Gotta gives Gudas credit on this play. Not just stopping Hertl. But coming out of DZ, he gets lured in by Barabanov, who lets the puck go and takes the hit, putting Gudas behind the play. Really smart play by AB. But Gudas hustles hard to tie up Hertl. Re-watching, maybe AB waves at the puck, makes light contact, but he doesn’t control it on purpose.

Big spot for Sharks here:

Meier gets up after being boarded, looks OK. Gudas to the box

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

Period 3

Meier goal: Outstanding work by Barabanov.

2 in: Loved that shift by Sturm, battles Gudas, strength for strength into corner. Then able to get in front for deflection.

6 in: Good effort by Nieto, forechecking, takes advantage of puck in Gudas’s skates.

Karlsson makes history: 10 goals for a defenseman in his first 13 team games in a season is a post-WWII NHL record

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

Also, in just 13 games, Karlsson has tied his season-high for goals as a Shark. He scored 10 in 41 games last year

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

That's got to feel great for Benning: Was emotional and clearly frustrated after the last loss, I'm sure he'll admit not his best game. But right now, go-ahead goal and staunch work on pivotal PK in 1st period

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 4, 2022

7 left: Megna makes one of those big mistakes, but Reimer erases it.

6 left: Another smart Barabanov play. Just gets it out, absorbs contact in NZ, knows he’s going to get hit, but advances it.  Really like his game tonight. Puck consistently in good places.

Sharks just don’t do anything easy: What a shot by Verhaegae. I tip the shot, but ESPN+ doesn’t like it from Reimer.

OT

Sturm-Nieto-Ferraro to start OT

3 left: Good pokecheck by Couture.