Notes #44: Reimer Gets Sharks to OT, Panthers Win 5-4

SUNRISE, Fla. — The San Jose Sharks visit the Florida Panthers for the first time since early Dec. 2019. It was so long ago, Peter DeBoer was still the Sharks head coach and Joe Thornton was still on the team. Thornton, of course, is now plying his trade in South Florida.

Tomas Hertl, Jonathan Dahlen, and Matt Nieto scored in the first two periods to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead. Dahlen scored again but Florida fought back to force OT.

Period One

There is a trading of chances to begin the game, Lomberg break, then Simek. Probably not how Boughner drew it up. Big save by Reimer on Lomberg.

Weegar post: The San Jose Sharks got lucky, breakdown in structure, no one took point man, Weegar walks down and rings it.

Hertl goal: Nice job by Balcers to hang onto puck as pressure came, find Hertl who beelines to front, leaving Bennett behind.

Seven in: Too casual by Timo along wall on breakout. Sharks have been careless with puck to begin game.

Nine in: Sharks taken through cycle after Thornton intercepts Hertl pass. Reimer with a huge save.

Nine left: Sharks just not able right to prevent Florida from entering zone. Once inside, Panthers’ talent just grinding Sharks down.

Seven left: Good play by Weatherby to intercept Panthers stretch pass up ice, but when he enters, can’t do anything offensively. Florida counterattacks. Not blaming him — great play to short circuit FLA entry — but when he can do a little of both, he’s arrived as an NHL player.

Five left: Well played by Vlasic. On Florida entry, he lets Bonino take the puck carrier, then Vlasic blocks the attempted centering pass. All this leads to a Duclair penalty.

With Ferraro out, Simek takes over on the PP…and you don't need to worry about your QB when you got Dahlen shooting like that

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 29, 2022

Interesting entry by Gregor on the Dahlen goal. He carried it up a la a Karlsson, two Sharks trailed him like a snake (instead of traditional drop pass formation). Might just be a coincidence because Gregor had a head of steam. Regardless, he’s unsung hero of this goal, he also found Dahlen walking down slot.

Forsling goal: You knew it was coming. Forsling sneaks down below the tops of the circles, his shot sneaks through Reimer. Both Bonino and Burns had a chance at it, but Panthers sticks too quick on forecheck.

#SJSharks have lead, but A LOT to clean up. Recognizing superior #TimeToHunt talent, so they won't be perfect, Sharks can do much better job managing puck, winning puck recoveries on FLA dump-ins, and preventing Panthers from owning the neutral zone

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 29, 2022

Also too much one-and-done in OZ for #SJSharks, as reflected in possession time here by SPORTLOGiQ pic.twitter.com/1IfyqDCxPS

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 29, 2022

Period Two

Per Sharks PR: Mario Ferraro will not return to tonight’s game.

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022

That’s the offense that Bonino was talking about. Nieto recovers dump-in, the veteran center finds Nieto cruising down slot, goal. Looks like Huberdeau lost him. This was after rare Sharks shift that shut down Panthers possession in OZ quick. Yup, the Hart candidate got roasted by the Long Beach native.

Intense PK’ing from Bonino and Nieto after Megna call. Thornton getting some tail-end PP time here.

Seven in: Good job by Burns to take Duclair away. A lot asked of him tonight.

Ten in: I liked Barabanov’s work keeping possession with Florida all over him on entry. Underrated asset of his.

Nine left: Lovely Hertl pass to spring Balcers. Bob keeps it close.

Eight left: Refs letting a lot go. Looks like Simek has stick knocked out of his hands in DZ as he was attempting to get to loose puck. Lundell. Leads to more Panthers chances. Stuff that leads to chances has got to be called.

Three left: Reimer coming up large again.

Minute left: That’s been the game at times. Florida just all over San Jose on forecheck. But the San Jose Sharks survive this period and increase lead because of Reim Time.

#TimeToHunt 12-4 Slot Shots in this period…#SJSharks getting worked tonight, but Florida "can't solve the case of James Reimer" right now

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022

Period Three

Boughner and Burns are animated, perhaps wondering why Panthers got a whistle for Reinhart getting struck in face (and not Sharks for Ferraro)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022

Weegar can’t believe it as it looks his shot into open net might’ve got stopped by Reimer somehow. His prone stick on ice? But then Barkov rolls down slot, Simek can’t hold him off.

Three in: Good job by Gadjovich on same shift to beat both Montour and Carlsson to puck in OZ. Leads to Sharks PP. Gregor just missed a big open net, glad he got one in Washington, or that might haunt him more.

But it looks like it’s Dahlen who will haunt Panthers. Again, what a shot. Good screen from Weatherby.

No goal, offside: San Jose Sharks luck out there, especially Meier. In my opinion, Timo does a poor job collapsing on Barkov there in scramble. This is the first ho-hum game I’ve seen from Meier in a while.

Mason Marchment — Bryan's son — pokes it through Reimer

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022

Eight in: Big block by Nieto.

Balcers just missed a shift and I don't see him on the bench

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022

Eight left: What a pass by Meier.

Six left: Great speed by Gregor, then Burns almost finds I think Bonino walking down. Not sure if Bob got to it, but wow.

Two left: Hard pick on Cogliano by Verhaegae.

OT

It looked like Huberdeau faked a Michigan before feeding Bennett in front for OT winner

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 30, 2022