Sharks Winless in 5 To Start Season Once Again, Lose 5-1 to Preds

NASHVILLE — The San Jose Sharks are on the road for the first time this season, visiting the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Tomas Hertl scored, but the Sharks lost their third straight, losing 5-1.

They’re now 0-4-1, after starting last season 0-5-0.

Period 1

2 in: Dogged forecheck and effort by Labanc gets Eklund puck.

11-7, it looks like San Jose Sharks are concentrating more on keeping the same winger duos together, shuffling centers among them. So that’s Duclair-Barabanov, Eklund-Kunin, Zetterlund-Hoffman, Zadina-Labanc. I wouldn’t panic about Z-Banker on the “fourth” line, we’ll see ice-time at the end of the game. If they’re going, I think Quinn will use them more.

5 in: Emberson first pass, Zadina chip, Sturm OZ possession. Like.

10 in: Hoffman looked surprised by that Peterson pass. Too bad, looked like a good chance. Pass was a bullet, so understandably hard to handle.

9 left: Good Eklund battle with Fabbro. That’s what you want to see from the smaller winger.

6 left: Labanc keeps it in again on forecheck. Solid start.

Blackwood penalty: Not sure why he played that in trapezoid?

Peterson and Zadina are Sharks’ second-choice killers, after Kunin and Sturm. Fagemo scores.

2 left: Emberson stands up, kills the play. I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far.

Labanc draws a penalty of Parssinen. Good work by him again. Reminds us, he has a lot of good hockey in him. Consistency has always been the problem.

This is the 1st time this year, 5th game in, that #SJSharks have outshot their opponent in a period. 11-8

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 22, 2023

However, San Jose Sharks not getting inside. Per SPORTLOGiQ, Preds 2-0 High-Danger.

Hoffman got the memo to shoot. Four shots before tonight, one each game, already three in this period.

Period 2

Novak goal: Looks like Eklund loses him in the slot. Too easy.

Sherwood goal: Looks like Zadina crosses up Emberson? Zadina runs into him, chases the wrong man. Zadina reminds me a little of Ferraro defensively, sometimes frenetic. Again, too easy. Looks like shot might have deflected off a stick.

6 in: Emberson comes down, good read, feeds slot. Helps draw call.

Burroughs…good on the power play? I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far, some escapability, actually. Crisp puck movement. He’s been San Jose’s best QB so far this year.

8 in: Nice pass by Barabanov to Peterson’s backhand. San Jose Sharks not giving up.

Kunin 10-9 over Sherwood.

9 in: Good Labanc backcheck effort off his own turnover.

7 left: What a Barabanov chance, off Rutta backcheck, then Duclair pushes it back up off turnover. Perhaps Barabanov’s best game of the season.

Hoffman penalty: He’s not happy with the holding call.

2 left: Eklund takes it off McDonagh on forecheck. Like. Leads to almost two minutes of San Jose Sharks OZ possession.

Period 3

Novak goal: Feels like San Jose Sharks are hurting from all the losses from their PK the last season or two.

3 in: I’ve liked some of Emberson tonight, but not there, Sherwood pickpockets him behind Blackwood.

5 in: Good gap by Emberson. But now, Duclair to box.

They’ve skipped Vlasic on PK. Hasn’t played since midway through second, he’s still on the bench.

7 in: Emberson takes it from Evangelista.

Hertl goal: He takes it on forecheck and sends it back to point. First of the season. So much weight on his shoulders with Granlund, Couture out.