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San Jose Sharks

Graf Scores 1st NHL Goal, But Sharks Lose 4-3

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Credit: Dean Tait/Sport Shots

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Montreal Canadiens into SAP Center.



Macklin Celebrini and Collin Graf and Tyler Toffoli scored, but the Sharks lost 4-3.

Period 1

Anderson vs. Thompson in the corner opening shift, that’s the kind of battle that Thompson will need to learn to win.

1 in: Like that from Mukhamadullin, just take it to the net. More of that, even if it doesn’t work. Mentally, just want him confident and aggressive.

3 in: Then Eklund takes it to the net, he and Toffoli have net front chances. Good approach to start for the San Jose Sharks.

Celebrini goal: Right-hander Smith and left-hander Celebrini set up for dueling one-timers on the power play, fun times! Beaut puck movement, one-touch pass from Eklund to Toffoli, who finds Celebrini. Attack triangle perfection.

8 left: Obviously, watching Hutson a little more closely tonight. Well, me and the Sharks. He slips Kunin who comes at him too hard to close up high, that was impressive. First impressions, doesn’t look the quickest, but seems to suck in defenders as much as he can, then just walk by them. Almost uncanny awareness and patience there, combined with just enough quickness. Also, passes are always in stride for his teammates. Certainly promotes a healthy breakout.

4 left: Smith almost centers it to Zetterlund beautifully. Later in that shift, quick Habs shot, Georgiev rebound, pops to Zetterlund in inner slot, Zetterlund just reacts and bats at it, even though there isn’t much pressure around him, right to a Canadien. There’s a moment, that’s some PTSD for Zetterlund, I think. I get it, usually at that moment with these Sharks teams, it’s red alert. But not there. Instead? Take a couple flat-footed steps with the puck, at worst, make sure to get it out, but maybe make a play, there’s no need to just give it up.

Overall solid start for the San Jose Sharks so far.

Period 2

Caufield goal: Celebrini starts off on the kill, beginning of it, don’t know if I’ve seen that so far…not a great start!

Newhook goal: Georgiev loses his stick, Thrun and another Canadien get in his kitchen. Sharks can’t kill the play, Newhook snipes it. Earlier, Graf to Goodrow to Kunin, and Kunin had a step on the defender for a one-on-one shot on Montembault. But big save there.

7 in: Good Smith shift. Poturalski might’ve been boarded by Anderson. Hab takes the puck, but passes it up the middle to Smith, who touches it to Zetterlund. Big Montembault save.

9 in: Like Mukhamadullin’s assertiveness tonight, just deciding and going.

10 in: Beck hits the post, Montreal’s second in this period.

Zetterlund no-goal: Zetterlund causes the turnover, then Smith razzle-dazzles Hutson, whoa! Sneaks pass to Poturalski by himself in front, Montembault stands tall. But in chaos, Zetterlund sneaks a shot through…I thought? Nope. In the Celebrini-Hutson show tonight though, Smith has shone.

Graf goal: Goodrow along the wall, gets it through three Habs, lastly Gallagher who’s trying to stop that pass-clear. Three Habs beat, 2-on-1 for Graf and Kunin, Graf looks off Montembault, then blasts it by him with a snipe to remember.

2 left: Another Habs post, Suzuki this time.

Grundstrom penalty: Four-minute double-minor! More gut check time for the Sharks!

Period 3

Gallagher goal: Actually was a pretty good kill, but double-minor, shrug. Can Sharks keep playing like they have been?

5 in: Grundstrom penalty withstanding, the fourth line has had some decent zone time. Have liked Grundstrom and Duehr’s hair-trigger physicality.

7 in: Gorgeous turnaround Celebrini stretch pass to Graf.

8 in: Excellent wall win by Goodrow, gets it back to Ferraro at point. Leads to a Graf chance and more, good grind shift.

PP1 was Walman-Smith-Celebrini-Toffoli-Eklund, PP2 was Liljegren-Graf-Poturalski-Zetterlund-Kunin.

Toffoli goal: Oh, that’s fun. Habs PK maybe watching Celebrini carry too much, Toffoli gets behind Armia and Matheson for a breakaway.

9 left: Slafkovsky lights up a one-timer, big Georgiev save.

6 left: Celebrini can’t believe it, Smith gave him a dime, and he got a good shot at the side, raised the puck, but right into the glove.

Armia goal: Poturalski gets pressured high on PP, it looks like, and 2-on-1.

1 left: Big save by Liljegren on empty net wraparound big, hopefully it helps the Sharks.

23 Comments
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Ricky W

Did anyone else hear Randy say that Will smith said his bantam coach was the best he ever had? Sheesh that might be true but C’mon buddy you can’t say that lol. You can’t throw the skipper under the bus like that. I know he is a great hockey guy and GM now but he’s not Scotty Bowman for F#### sake … but damn your Bantam coach? Not a good look you gotta have your skippers back Will.

Last edited 10 days ago by Ricky W
Ty Comes

Most influential to his development into becoming an elite player is what was being construed, at least that’s how I’ve read and heard it there

Zeke

its also in the interview a couple posts back.

Ricky W

Idk the way Randy said it was pretty passive aggressive. And I went back and read the article and sheng opens the thing up with that quote from smith. Maybe I’m being too sensitive but whoever is coach at that moment is the best there is, if you’re a pro. There are only 32 of them in the world.
Was sheng being passive aggressive putting it in the first line ?

Last edited 10 days ago by Ricky W
Joseph

I don’t know what happened in your life to make you think you understand the inner workings of organized hockey, but I’ve never encountered a fan so wildly off base with their attempted analysis. It’s always weird, it’s usually personal, and the personal aspects are painfully transparent to everyone but you. Just…shut up, man.

Ricky W

Ok Dr. Phil my bad 🙏

jrauh

You are being completely overreactive, looking for something that doesn’t exist. And “analyzing” the way Randy stated something? It’s unsettling some of the takes you come up with. To accent Joseph’s comments, you seem to be the guy you meet at a party that just starts talking about anything w/out any prompting and who’d be someone I’d quickly be walking away from just SMH.

Ricky W

thanks for the heads up Jruah 🙏 I don’t want to be that guy. Loosing hurts so bad it makes the walls close in and you start to question everything. With all the offseason acquisitions there was a lot of hope coming into the season.

Lucas

One of the Sharks best games in a while. Sucks to lose but the tank goes on.

Smokey Da Shark

It’s very disappointing to see the sharks lose 4-3 when it should have been a 4-4 game. Cant forgive the let down but 4giev and the refs did them no favors tonight.

BryanMirkley6

So much fun to watch will smith tonight. His playmaking brain is incredible and finally his legs are giving him the ability to control the play a bit. I can’t wait to see him next year.

Zeke

Fun game. Not gonna see Celebrini stopped twice that close in very often. Two of the Habs goals came on cross ice passes that were deflected!! Just not enough to disrupt the timing of the shot. A small fraction of an inch and neither pass gets thru cleanly. The ‘no-goal’ was almost certainly a goal, but like the refs and broadcasters, I didn’t see definitive proof on any of those angles. Would like to see the Sharks win one of the games this week. MTL was the best match-up compared to Vancouver and Dallas. Thought Poturalski had a solid game,… Read more »

BurnsiesBeard

I was actually quite underwhelmed with Pots, and I didn’t have high expectations for him going in.

Ty Comes

I thought he looked good on the power play (other than the shortie but like Zeke said he hauled back) I think he played well enough to get at least another game

Zeke

lotta deuces on that line, with jerseys 2, 20 and 22

Rothgar

Warso called Deuces wild!

Nate

Two things stood out last night. First, Graf will not be playing another AHL game. Second, PP1 will probably improve quite a bit with Smith replacing Granlund. Both those kids are the real deal.

Gary Caldwell

I came in around the 13 minute mark in the 3rd and was absolutely floored by the 1st unit’s play.

mknepper

I agree with a lot of the thoughts of the people commenting. This was as good of a tank game as we can expect (as I have heard one podcaster call it). The young players all played well, the team put up a good fight, and with a little puck luck they would have won. I also want to note, that if they were healthy (having Wennberg and Kovalenko for example) I believe they would have won this game. These will be all obvious observations but here I go: Smith has been getting better as the season goes on. There… Read more »

Joseph

Thompson looks a little bigger to me. Could just be a trick of the eyes, but he looks more physically capable.

Pescadito

Yeah I dig it! Nice breakdown

WW

“How any hockey fan or voter cannot see that Macklin is the best rookie shocks me”

Somewhere over on a Habs web site, some guy is writing (maybe in French) “How any hockey fan or voter cannot see that Hutson is the best rookie shocks me.”

But yeah Celebrini should get the nod because is shouldering a heavier load. It’s a shame Sharks didn’t grab Hutson with their #45 pick though.

Last edited 9 days ago by WW

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