Unhappy Holidays: Sharks Lose 6th Straight, 5-1 to Kings

LOS ANGELES — The San Jose Sharks visit Crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Kings.

Fabian Zetterlund scored the opening goal, but the Kings reeled off five straight to win 5-1.

Period 1

4 in: I like the battle from Addison versus Fiala in front.

5 in: Studnicka leading rush, gets stopped before entry, turnover in the wrong place. Of course you want him to press the attack, try stuff, but there’s also forcing it there. A chip or a dump wouldn’t have been bad there. There’s that balance between forcing offense and holding onto the puck for too long.

6 in: Thrun threads it in NZ to Zadina, like.

8 in: Barabanov backhand chance, initiated with good possession work by Granlund line, Granlund orchestrating. Ferraro made a good read on the rush, gaining zone, got a little lucky with a little wild low-to-high pass to Zetterlund.

10 in: Eklund picks I think Lizotte instead chasing the puck. Fans don’t like it, but I don’t think his coaches mind his attitude. Zadina chance. San Jose Sharks have the jump over Kings so far, better score before LA wakes up.

Then rush led by Hertl, Zadina chance. Again, he’s been terrific this year. So hard to take puck off him.

Zetterlund goal: Sniffs out high Fiala drop to Anderson, breakaway. Just a great individual effort.

6 left: Then a good defensive shift by a tired Zetterlund, he stays on after everyone has changed to lock down middle, then outmuscles Laferriere below goal line to gain possession.

Ineffectual Sharks power play to end though. ill-advised Zetterlund pass almost leads to a 2-on-1 Kings shortie goal. Then San Jose establishes OZ possession with 30 seconds left, but a lot of pitch and catch. Not a good momentum PP.

Can Sharks keep it up? 3-1 Slot Shots, 1-0 High-Danger at Even Strength for them, so excellent start.

Period 2

Eklund does good work in net front to slip Gavrikov to get a shot.

Fiala goal: Thrun has done a good job with the puck tonight but not there. Forced pass to Barabanov, Danault with the good stick, Fiala breakaway.

Lewis goal: Again, forcing a pass, Studnicka to Ferraro D-to-D, Ferraro jumped by Lewis. Then Kahkonen goes for the pokecheck.

Credit the San Jose Sharks, have bounced back with some chances, Duclair breakaway and more. On the other hand, they’re bleeding good chances too. Play sloppy. Never feels, even when Sharks are in control of a game, that they’re actually in control. Just saw an example of that, two goals against in 13 seconds.

8 in: Kopitar has Kahkonen to himself, not sure what happened. Then Doughty penalty erased by immediate Granlund call. Ugly hockey from both teams.

Dubois goal: The tide has turned. Kunin turnover on Sharks’ rush. Other way, Kings just grind with possession, chances, Sharks just chasing. Leads to Dubois pounding an easy one past Kahkonen. Just felt like LA toying with San Jose there. Bigger, stronger, faster, more skilled. Hoffman, good effort, just unable to contain Laferriere there along wall, for example.

2 left: That seems like a hope Eklund throwaway up NZ middle, off pass from Hertl he couldn’t quite handle along wall. Okhotiuk there, but I think that looked more lucky than anything. That’s a moment where there must be improvement.

San Jose Sharks got to trading chances, I think, which they should never do. Kings outshot them 17-11 in the period, after Sharks had an 8-6 edge in the opening frame. San Jose had some quality chances, I’ll give them that. But to take from Quinn, not a period of winning hockey from them.

For what it’s worth, Sharks 6-5 Slot Shots, Kings 3-2 High-Danger at ES in this period. Sharks couldn’t convert, Kings did.

Period 3

Barabanov starts out the period on the fourth line. Credit to him, responding, Barabanov-like herky-jerky entry, sets up Burroughs for the one-timer…who trips. Crowd loves it.

Kempe goal: Beaut Kempe tip. Not sure how to defend, he’s pretty high in slot.

Well Sharks will win something tonight. I give that bout to Kunin 10-9. Good on Laferriere to step up for his teammate

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 28, 2023

Kunin should’ve got the interference there, I think, Sharks come out with a power play there somehow. Well, guess it makes up for Ferraro in Colorado.

Another listless San Jose Sharks power play.

Kaliyev back on the ice, good to see.

10 left: Grundstrom just outmuscled Addison stick to stick in 50-50 battle.

8 left: Ferraro does a good job walling off Bystedt, but Kunin has to take a “good penalty” to prevent the Kopitar drive to the front.

Then Kahkonen with an incredible glove save on Kempe. That’s going to look great on a hockey card (with no further detail on the score, of course, haha).

5 left: Studnicka pickpocketed coming out of the zone by Dubois.

Kempe goal: Just one on one magic versus Rutta. Then straight-up beats Kahkonen. Kings have taken total control, 13-3 shots in this period.