Cursed Season Continues: Sharks Lose to Devils 4-3 in Shootout

The San Jose Sharks welcome in the New Jersey Devils into SAP Center. Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead after two periods against the Cup contenders. Then Nick Bonino added another, but San Jose lost in the shootout 4-3.

Period 1

Graves goal: Megna pinches with no help. Not on Megna, in my opinion. Karlsson plays the 2-on-1, he actually stops the pass, but he falls. Meier tracks back hard, but I don’t think he does a good job once he gets back. Maybe didn’t come back with much of a plan. Ugly hockey all around, not the response that this San Jose Sharks squad looking for after being routed 7-1 by the Edmonton Oilers.

Lorentz line has popped tonight with energy, Sharks are grinding despite early deficit.

8 in: Too bad Karlsson couldn’t handle the Meier pass clean, Vanecek had chance to set with bobble. But good cycle shift from Hertl line, Eyssimont, I look for this for grind guys on skill lines, can they at least distribute puck in the OZ to their linemates. He did a nice job in corner with two Devils coming at him.

Sturm sets up Bonino for a golden chance. Looks like it goes wide. They need Bonino to get on the scoresheet more consistently if he’s going to keep going on the third line. Does a lot of things, but need more

9 left: Sharks 8-2 shots. Meier does a nice job avoiding Wood forecheck. They had a nice DZ exit, that line, Eyssimont hard in corner on Wood, Meier with active stick, but couldn’t create offense. I have not minded Eyssimont on that line, but ultimately, they have to score.

7 left: Gregor vs. Siegenthaler in corner, the Devils defenseman wins. I wonder if that’s an example of Gregor getting outbattled, will have to watch again.

Game delayed:

Specifically, it's a broken dasher board pic.twitter.com/iUs2mIh0oH

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023

Game re-starting with #SJSharks DZ faceoff, 3:59 left in first period. Teams able to change lines

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023

Meier goal: There you go. Eyssimont will keep himself playing on a scoring line with plays like that. Does a good job keeping puck alive, then finds Meier all alone off to side, backdoor.

2 left: Everything Gregor there. Devils blueline turnover, Gregor jumps on it, clear breakaway, fantastic speed, then goes high and wide. You know it’s in his head, that’s the challenge of a pro athlete, yeah? Overcoming the mental hurdles and maximizing the talent. Because we know he has NHL-caliber talent.

Karlsson goal: First goal since Dec. 22. Great work by San Jose Sharks power play of keeping it in, perhaps even when they should’ve got an extra call, Barabanov tripped behind net. Great seeing-eye shot and traffic by Barabanov and Couture made that impossible to pick up.

The San Jose Sharks rewarded by great play with a lead! Let’s see if they can keep it up. 4-2 High-Danger at 5v5 per NST.

Period 2

Cicek with a kind of D-to-D pass into Devils forecheck that might get him sat as soon as Harrington healthy. Lucky to come out unscathed.

1 in: Barabanov does nice job rolling by Graves on chip and chase. That’s good battle.

3 in: Gregor getting a PK look. Good for him. A bit harried there, but managed to make big plays to stop good chances.

4 in: Fun watching Meier. McLeod draped all over his back, he manages to get puck in front for a Hertl chance.

5 in: Great forecheck by Lorentz line, Lindblom is smart, jumps on vulnerable Devil up high trying to exit. He’s a smart player with good sense of when to go, when not to go. Lindblom pass just misses to side of Vanecek, no Shark there.

7 in: Good shift by Gregor, his speed on FC forces Graves into trouble, Sturm and company able to pounce. But he misses a centering pass one-timer, he takes a second on the ice to think about it, it looks like, which he cannot do. You want him always moving.

9 left: Sharks were rolling lines in OZ, great work, from 3rd to 4th, but then Gadjovich, who’s had a very good game, telegraphs pass to point to Karlsson. It’s OK, like I’ve been saying, fourth line been coming on for Sharks for a while, but small things.

San Jose Sharks playing one of their classic they’re not really a bad team games. Against a very good opponent. Setting fans up for some heartbreak.

7 left: Reimer cleans that up. Vlasic bobbles a D-to-D pass from Benning as Devils FC roaring in, that happens, but you can’t just throw that blindly up the middle. I’m sure he had a target but he wasn’t in a good spot to try a pass like that, that’s like a backfoot QB throw for an easy interception. Eat it, take the hit, or keep it along boards if you must surrender it.

5 left: Big fan of that play by Barabanov, keeps it alive though Devils on top of him in OZ, doesn’t give it to Karlsson at point, too easy, Devils looking for that for counterattack.

3 left: Good Gregor stick in slot as Hughes looking to go cross ice. Feels like San Jose Sharks need next goal, Devils coming on, have dominated shot counter this period.

2 left: Nieto and Couture 2-on-1, need to get a shot there, Nieto sends it high. Good decision by Karlsson, puck in no man’s land, most cases I’ve seen with him, he might overcommit, but this time, he makes wise decision to retreat. That line comes back strong, able to switch to Hertl line in OZ, Meier gets first Sharks shots in a while, stuffs in tight. First shot since 8:54 left by Lindblom.

Sharks 13-4 shots in 1st, Devils 16-6 in 2nd, accurate to game that I’m seeing. NST does like Sharks High-Danger chances, even in middle frame, but SPORTLOGiQ not as kind. SJS 4-3 Slot Shots in All Situations in 1st, Devils 6-2 in 2nd.

Period 3

Hischier goal: Well, Sharks didn’t keep prolong their fans’ hopes at least tonight. Karlsson turnover, but main thing, between Hertl and Meier, someone must track back harder on Hischier. That’s awful. Karlsson and Megna took the two Devils attacking, there can’t be an open trailer like that. Karlsson slams his stick afterwards, maybe mad at himself for initial turnover, but he needs help there too. I know Hertl not the fleetest of foot on first step, but it looks on replay that Hertl and Meier slow to react to brewing situation mentally. Hischier was not slow.

Bonino goal: Hey, shut me up there. Good PP2 there. Eyssimont with a couple shots there and the one that Bonino capitalizes on.

Not a power play goal officially, but outstanding work by #SJSharks PP2 of getting puck to the net and being direct, esp in last 30 seconds of it

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023

7 in: Eyssimont gets it up to Meier for breakaway. Benning definitely took look back at linesman that got in his way as if he were a Devil there. Then Nieto with a good clear to buy a line change. A lot of action there, Sharks hanging on a little, to be expected because of how good Devils are. But they’re playing hard.

6 left: Sturm consistently hard on backcheck, gives his defenseman a good chance to get set in zone. Then good break-up by Vlasic down low to get the Sharks out off DZ faceoff.

5 left: Karlsson on retreat, does a good job to skate with Hughes, force an angle shot.

4 left: Really good defensive Sturm shift sans stick. Big, strong, fast, direct, and smart.

Hughes goal: Karlsson deflected that in.

I mean, what else can you do but laugh?

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023

OT

Hertl-Meier-Karlsson to start.

4 left: Meier does a nice job staying step for step with Hughes on attack.

Eyssimont creates turnover that leads to 2-on-1 with Sturm, then he gets a back hand chance in tight on return pass. Tatar doesn’t like extra whack, throws him down. Mikey creating chaos, fans loving it. He’s provided a boost, for sure.

Barabanov with some huge blocks in OT.

#SJSharks haven't won an OT/shootout game since Nov. 13 in Minnesota

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023