Karlsson Breaks Burns’s Franchise Record, But Sharks Lose 5-2 to Wild

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Minnesota Wild into SAP Center. Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl scored on the power play, but the Sharks dropped a 5-2 decision.

Period 1

Spurgeon goal: Great read by Spurgeon. Just terrific. Pouliot is flat-footed after a perhaps ill-advised pinch, but worst part is feet and brain aren’t moving like Spurgeon’s is. Smoked up the ice by Spurgeon. Ferraro’s got a man and Couture’s got a man, but no one has Spurgeon. But again, best part is the read. Winning hockey.

4 in: Exciting Eklund shift, takes it off Middleton on forecheck, feeds it up the middle to Hertl for outstanding chance, then later, seams it to Hertl though Wild D recovers.

6 in: Quinn will not like that Labanc on entry turnover. Great if it works, but it didn’t.

#SJSharks assistant equipment manager Vinny Ferraiuolo gets a warm round of applause for his 2,000th game

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

7 in: Nice bit of puck protection by Hertl down low, that’s coming back for him, and he slings it dot to dot to Karlsson. Bad play if it doesn’t work, but as it has been more often recently for Hertl, it worked. Elite play there.

10 in: Another strong Eklund shift, he’s looking confident and very comfortable so far tonight.

6 left: Liked that play under pressure by Couture. A little flat-footed with puck under Wild forecheck pressure, he’s able to keep his nerve and advance it to a safer place up the wall to Barabanov. A veteran’s calm and skill there.

4 left: Not a good play by Eklund there, he tries to bounce it off boards to perhaps a Shark trailing him, he’s just got to get it out there. There was great touch there to keep it in a place that could’ve led to an easy Sharks exit. But down the ice, Hertl strong, two Wild on him high, he still manages a dangerous shot from middle high. Then impressively, Johansson has the puck in DZ corner, whiffs on it, but impressive part is Eklund gets under the NHL vet, isn’t moved off the puck, almost connects on a Grade-A chance for Karlsson attacking slot. That’s a demonstratively stronger player.

1 left: I think you live with that Gregor penalty, that’s how you want him playing, Goligoski quick turn at the end, not blaming him but just bang-bang. It looks like Goligoski OK, that’s great, and you want Gregor playing hungry every shift, see it there.

Sharks 17-5 shots, 4-1 Slot Shots, a lot of good hockey from them there, let’s see if they can keep it up.

Period 2

6 in: Every time the Hertl line comes out, I’m expecting good things, they’re having a dynamic game. Hopefully it can lead to a goal for Eklund or Zetterlund, both deserve one.

Labanc chance, good hockey from him, gets it in NZ, attacks the middle, pushes back defense.

7 in: But then Eklund can’t do that. Trying to make a play, loses it to Boldy, breakaway. Reimer bails him out. That’s one of those, you can do that in the AHL, and maybe one day with consistency in the NHL, but not today.

Couture goal: San Jose Sharks were on a 1-for-30 power play skid. Off faceoff win, Sharks simply just get it on net. KISS hockey.

First time #SJSharks have scored a power play goal against a team other than #ALLCAPS in more than a month https://t.co/duXWhrO5sM

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

Nice touch with Norris Trophy graphic for Burns's 2016-17 campaign…will Karlsson get that after this season? https://t.co/77OIJZcFkW

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

7 left: Not every play worked, but put Labanc in an offensive situation, good things often happen. Good shift, just got it to the net for Lorentz.

6 left: Eklund shakes Eriksson Ek off like a bad habit there. That’s a real good defensive center that Eklund just created space for himself down low on. Impressive.

5 left: Grade-A Couture chance, Barabanov gains zone, protects it as he does, then drops it Johnsson. Then Johnsson uncorks a high-skill lead pass to Couture who’s beat his check down slot. Fleury answers.

Svechnikov, waiting on Wild to breakout in front of Fleury, engages in a jousting match with MAF.

Foligno heads toward Svechnikov to enforce.

Watching replay: Svechnikov crashed net deep into blue, didn't really touch MAF, but that annoyed MAF, set off Medieval Times

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

Fleury and Svechnikov will settle this at the Renaissance Faire tomorrow pic.twitter.com/L3VEOW0ki8

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

Eh, you stop up so deep in the crease, expect a reaction. While Svechnikov didn’t slash Fleury much, a penalty was deserved on the San Jose Sharks there.

Gaudreau goal: Looks like he beats Couture to rebound. Couture might have been guessing on Wild counterattack, that left him behind.

Doesn’t look it on the shot counter, but the Wild came out with a better second. Not that San Jose Sharks played bad.

Period 3

Johansson goal: Stretch pass by Karlsson to Eklund rejected. Then Sharks can’t get it out.

8 in: Another power shift by Hertl. Like.

Hertl goal: Spurgeon, good as he is, has no chance down low with Hertl. Again, that power game appears to be back.

I thought that Hertl goal might be called back for incidental goalie interference 🤔 Well, don't say all the calls go against the Sharks!

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

Was going to say that was an outstanding backcheck from Eklund…well, good effort, at least, he really got on his horse and caught Shaw from behind

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023

Zuccarello goal: Well, another perfect fall hard for Bedard game for the Sharks. Outstanding effort, you don’t feel so bad after the loss, a lot of bright spots, but you don’t get a point.

8 left: Liked Labanc’s risk management there. On entry, thinks about it, but doesn’t uncork that cross-ice diagonal that has led to so many turnovers for him. Weak shot on net, but the Sharks win the puck in the corner, territory gained. Then down low, he tries a bold wall to wall pass, but Ferraro was open and pass in general vicinity.

6 left: Hard Boldy shot seems to sting Reimer, ref came by to check on him, but he’s still in the game.

Svechnikov has played one shift since he got into it with Fleury. Guess Quinn wasn't a fan?

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2023