Romanov Wall, Guryev Slugfest Powers Sharks’ 4-3 Rookie Faceoff Win

LAS VEGAS — The San Jose Sharks opened the Rookie Faceoff with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Tristen Robins, Bradley Marek, and Gannon Laroque scored, Georgi Romanov made 41 saves, and Danil Gushchin and William Eklund sealed it in the shootout.

Scoresheet from Game 1 of the 2023 Rookie Faceoff presented by Martin-Harris Construction, a 4-3 San Jose shootout win pic.twitter.com/U9CiGAynNl

— VGK Communications (@VGK_PR) September 15, 2023

Here are some quick thoughts from tonight’s game, along with comments from head coach John McCarthy, Robins, Laroque, and Artem Guryev.

Who Impressed?

The first name on McCarthy’s mind was 23-year-old free agent signing Romanov, “He played great, gave us chance to win the game.”

He also cited Eklund, Robins, Gushchin, and Shakir Mukhamadullin: “Those guys who have played pro before, you kind of expect to have a little bit more structure to their game.”

He also thought Laroque, for a player who had surgery on both hips and only appeared in four WHL games last year, looked good in his return to high-level action.

Laroque, on playing again: “My smile is probably the biggest you've ever seen.”

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 15, 2023

For myself, the 6-foot-4 Mukhamadullin impressed in particular with his combination of skating and puck-moving ability.

I also noticed that during a 5-on-3 kill, it was Robins who got tapped ahead of all the other forwards. He also was an alternate captain along with Henry Thrun and Eklund.

“It does really mean a lot to be looked as a leader in that locker room by my peers and then the coaching staff as well,” Robins said.

Guryev Punishes With a Smile

2021 fifth-rounder Artem Guryev, fresh off signing an ELC with the San Jose Sharks, showed that he was someone who would drag his team into the fight.

Literally.

WE GOT A HEAVY WEIGHT FIGHT! #GoKingsGo #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/tjZwAZ80ZI

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) September 15, 2023

More than anything though, it’s Guryev’s enthusiasm for the physical game which is striking. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s 6-foot-4.

“I just had to get the boys fired up, because we were getting a little sloppy,” he said of his slugfest with 6-foot-6 Samuel Helenius. “You see what happened, we won the game, so that’s all that matters.”

Someone who would’ve loved Guryev’s attitude?

The late Bryan Marchment, arguably the most intimidating defenseman in his day, and the Sharks scout who banged the table to draft Guryev.

“Oh yeah,” Guryev smiled when I asked him if “Mush” would have been proud of his performance.

What Happened to Furlong?

2022 fifth-rounder Jake Furlong was originally in the line-up but was switched up last minute for Luca Cagnoni.

#SJSharks lines today:

Eklund-Robins-Halttunen
Musty-Bordeleau-Gushchin
Wiesblatt-Marek-Coe
MacEachern-Russell-Cardwell

Mukhamadullin-Thrun
Pulli-Laroque
Guryev-Furlong

Romanov

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 15, 2023

McCarthy says there was nothing to it, the Sharks just wanted a look at Cagnoni tonight, and Furlong will draw in later in the tournament.