Bordeleau & Eklund Connect Again, But Sharks Lose 4-3 in OT

The San Jose Sharks take on the Los Angeles Kings in Salt Lake City at Delta Center. It’s San Jose’s pre-season finale.

Alexander Barabanov and Mike Hoffman and Thomas Bordeleau scored, but the Sharks lost 4-3 in OT.

Period 1

Nice start for Granlund line, Granlund steals from Doughty on forecheck, finds Eklund, who moves it to Kunin in slot for a Grade-A chance that Copley turns away.

3 in: Kempe able to get open behind Bordeleau. Bordeleau trying to block pass, instead of marking Kempe, but in fairness, maybe Bordeleau had handed Kempe off to Benning. Either way though, Kempe has a good chance.

Dubois goal: After that opening Kunin chance, San Jose Sharks getting steamrolled, 7-2 shots through 9 minutes.

San Jose Sharks indeed try five-forward power play unit, quarterbacked by Granlund. Nothing doing so far. Looks like Granlund quarterbacking drop, Duclair and Barabanov as trailer options.

7 left: Zadina hanging around, taking that stick in the slot, while watching the point. You appreciate the alertness and activity.

5 left: Rough exit pass by Burroughs, maybe just a miscommunication. But it’s a worry with this team, the blueline moving puck out of zone. We’ll see soon.

Barabanov goal: Great puck movement and possession by the top unit. Just put five good forwards together and let them go. Looks like Granlund with the shot-pass from up top. Up to this point, between the early Kunin chance and now, the Sharks were just getting hammered 5-on-5.

Period 2

Some miscommunication on top power play unit, Granlund drops it off behind Blackwood, but turnover. Wonder if there’s an element there where you expect the quarterback in Granlund to carry it out.

2 in: Labanc steals on the forecheck, maybe Gavrikov? Great effort. San Jose Sharks need more of that.

6 in: Twice on the same shift, Granlund shows off his skill, kicking an errant pass up to his stick.

Kopitar goal: After a fantastic Peterson chance, that he helped force with his forecheck effort, Hoffman gives it away, was trying to clear along wall, perhaps? Anyway, no help there, it was a pass to the Kings point. Candy from there. Hoffman takes Doughty along with Ferraro, looks like puck-chasing.

9 in: Benning looks like he gets fooled by Dubois, Dubois gets a step after Benning got flat-footed. Slash.

8 left: Duclair does a nice job pushing back the defense with his speed, then drops it to Zadina.

Hoffman goal: He’s not going to miss from there. Initiated from a Blackwood save for a perimeter Kings shot, Burroughs does good work to keep lone King around, Moore, from puck. Then Hoffman shows touch with a NZ pass to Hertl leading rush.

5 left: I think Eklund, on forecheck, made a nifty corner to slot pass to Granlund. Copley. I say think because an official’s platform, maybe a scorekeeper, is blocking the left corner of the ice on TV. Yeah, you’ll have to change the set-up for real NHL games here, if it gets here.

4 left: Kunin with a partial breakaway shortie chance, good to see he’s skating well after a knee injury. Then Ferraro picks off the pass, then clears it. Good work from him.

2 left: Hoffman’s shot has to be respected, he uses that to his advantage, shows shot, then passes to Hertl in front of Copley. Everybody knew about Hoffman’s shot, but I’ve been impressed with his craftiness with the puck throughout this pre-season.

Period 3

Moore goal: Peterson had two chances, albeit not clear opportunities, to get it out along the wall. Puck died there.

6 in: Good give-and-go between Benning and Hoffman. Then Granlund and Eklund follow with another one.

8 in: Down one, trying to do something, not a great place for Duclair to lose puck right before blueline. Kempe rushes, Blackwood makes a pretty glove save. I think he’s been good tonight.

9 left: Zadina hard puck pursuit up top, bails San Jose Sharks out of tough situation, Kings were manhandling them a bit.

Then Fiala hits Zadina maybe a little late, Ferraro is the first in to defend his teammate.

8 left: Great read by Burroughs to join rush as Kings were gassed.

Bordeleau goal: Again, Eklund to Bordeleau. Great play by both, Eklund is quick and hungry on loose puck, pace pass to Bordeleau, and same pace from Bordeleau, he’s so quick to net, surprises Copley. Quick strike, playing fast.

Bourdeleau answers and this game is tied ‼️

pic.twitter.com/wEzMHcUdvW

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 6, 2023

Did Burroughs come off the bench to defend Hertl or was it a natural line change?

SALT LAKE SCRUM! #FrozenFury #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/F6FH7vU9Tn

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) October 6, 2023

OT

Well, that was fast.