Chrona Strong in Debut, But Sharks Lose 2-1 in OT

The San Jose Sharks welcome in the Los Angeles Kings to SAP Center. It’s San Jose’s fourth pre-season game.

Tomas Hertl scored late, but the Sharks fell 2-1 in OT. Prospect Magnus Chrona, in his first NHL pre-season appearance, stopped 28 of 30 shots.

Period 1

Duclair-Sturm-Ferraro-Benning start PK. Regular season preview? Then Eklund-Kunin-Vlasic-Rutta. Duclair was last heavily used on PK in Ottawa in 2019-20.

5 in: Soft hope backhand breakout pass up the middle, from the corner, by Bordeleau, intercepted. Can’t do that. Eklund bails him out, he’s on top of the interceptor, gets it out.

6 in: Hertl hits Duclair with the stretch pass, San Jose Sharks hope to see a lot of that this year.

8 in: Another soft backhand pass by Bordeleau, this time in offensive zone, intercepted.

9 in: Kunin taking the draw on PK. He has some experience at center in the NHL, last time on a regular basis was with Minnesota in 2019-20.

5 left: Good call by Knyzhov to jump up in play. Does a good job to corral tipped trailer pass too, though he misses net with shot.

3 left: Good down-low defensive effort by Mukhamadullin. Taking hits, trying to establish position in front. Not Pronger-mean, but he’s willing.

1 left: Bordeleau and Thomas competing for loose puck behind Chrona, Bordeleau does a good job of tying up Thomas, so Mukhamadullin can grab the puck with ease.

Period 2

Mukhamadullin-Hertl-Duclair-Barabanov-Hoffman to start power play. Hoffman has one-timer spot on right flank. Great puck movement from them. This line-up is close to an NHL tune-up. Benning-Eklund-Bordeleau-Kunin-Bailey is second unit.

You can see why Hoffman has been part of so many successful power plays. Besides his shot, which is the headline-grabbing tool, a crafty puck distributor, not a one-trick pony.

7 in: Duclair starts PK again.

10 left: Good PK by Eklund. Knows when to hold ’em, when to fold ’em. Perfect stretch pass to Kunin for chance. But didn’t push when nothing there, made the right decision and play at every turn here.

Sabourin and Doty get the crowd going with a street brawl, whoa. Gonna call that one a draw, both gave a good show.

6 left: Hertl and Eklund spinning and ducking, fun display of a puck protection cycle duo that San Jose Sharks fans will love to see for the next decade. The Sharks showing more of an offensive pulse in this period.

5 left: Good job by Bailey to draw a penalty, speed and size forces interference. Continues to make a good account for himself.

Period 3

1 in: It looks like another soft Bordeleau backhand pass gets intercepted. On entry, I think he was trying to hit trailer Bailey. I don’t mind what he’s trying, to hit the trailer, but you gotta execute.

Couple of missed passes by Mukhamadullin on this first PP of period, he hasn’t been bad, but not as sharp today.

3 in: That’s a great Bordeleau pass, one touch while standing still to Eklund in stride.

Hit by Doty on Rutta pic.twitter.com/ybvMXj89E0

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) October 1, 2023

8 in: Another good Bordeleau pass in tight to Eklund on PP, Eklund attacks, save.

Hertl goal: Sabourin screen and a bullet from Hertl. Sabourin and Englund then go at it for no reason I can discern. Sabourin disturbing things tonight, in a good way.

OT

Hertl-Duclair-Mukhamadullin to start.

1 in: Outstanding 1-on-1 deception by Eklund on Andrerson-Dolan to create a little separation for a jam chance.