Sabres Slice Up Sharks 6-3

The San Jose Sharks visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Nick Bonino and Kevin Labanc helped the Sharks punch back after a sluggish start, and Oskar Lindblom scored his first as a Shark, but Buffalo doubled up San Jose 6-3.

Period 1

#SJSharks lines tonight, on Gregor getting scratched? He might be a healthy scratch, but also, he left last night's game after I think blocking a shot with his hand. He was able to return, but just something to consider pic.twitter.com/EyRajaiGLD

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 5, 2022

Thompson goal: San Jose Sharks look sluggish, Remenda says Hertl didn’t sort out his backcheck. Then Labanc, with maybe a little more time and space than he thought, pitchforks it out.

Bonino goal: Solid forecheck by every one on the line, including Karlsson and Megna. True five-man forecheck.

6 left: Clever neutral zone area pass by Barabanov. Dangerous if picked off, but executed perfectly, Couture to skate right into the pass.

First power play goal by #SJSharks PP2 unit since Kunin on Nov. 5. Bonino, Nieto did great job along wall to keep puck alive, Benning slides a nice pass to the open man in Labanc

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 5, 2022

2 left: Dell makes a save with his mask, he’s been good tonight, Sharks have been sluggish.

What I haven’t seen A LOT of this year with the Sharks, we play one bad period, we step it up and lock it down with a great period in response. Just anecdotally, but bad periods have sort of flowed into each other. Wonder if the San Jose Sharks can be better than that.

Period 2

Peterka goal: Remenda says forecheck can be better, and he’s right, but Karlsson also needs to be more aware, can’t let Peterka behind him like that. Looks he was puck-watching, he was thinking offense as Sabres were grabbing possession.

3 in: Lindblom with a big hit, Lorentz with more chances. Lorentz has had a ton last couple of games.

Skinner goal: Ugly panic hockey. Cicek defending rush off Kunin turnover, skates into Dell, takes him out. Gimme for Skinner. Kunin makes an ugly pass crossing blueline, appreciate what he’s trying to do, but it doesn’t work, that’s the counterattack that comes back.

Hahn says David Quinn gathers up Sharks after Dahlin hit on Nieto, believes he’s urging them to focus on the game. It’s still on 3-2.

10 in: Not a sight you see everyday, Karlsson tries a hip check. He misses it, on Krebs.

9 left: Labanc tries the same play that led to Kunin goal. Pull up crossing the line, try to hit the attacker rolling down with speed, turnover, Sabres chance.

Quinn goal: Sharks can’t change on kill to get set, long change. They got men back but they were all out of sorts. All off an unforced Barabanov over the glass penalty. Broadcast points out it’s the fourth such penalty on this road trip, Labanc earlier tonight, Cicek and Megna in Montreal.

Last time #SJSharks penalty kill gave up 2 or more PP goals in back-to-back games was 2/11/21 (LAK) and 2/13/21 (VGK)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 5, 2022

Period 3

The San Jose Sharks just don’t appear to have it tonight. Disappointing way to end the road trip that started out so promising, up to three minutes left in Toronto. But don’t you dare pin it just on Hertl. A better team could easily overcome that turnover. A better team would’ve built on Hertl’s two goals to start out against Ottawa.

Well at least we still have Erik Karlsson to watch…he dekes Jack Quinn into space pic.twitter.com/jbml3dLNHB

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 5, 2022

Svechnikov and Meier switch places on lines.

Lindblom goal: Bonino and Lindblom goals in the same game in this economy? Good effort by Oskar, sticks with it, hopefully it gets him going. He’s had a tough start this season. That’s also Gadjovich’s first point this year.