Sharks Can’t Get Out of Their Own Way, Lose 2-1

NEWARK, N.J. — The San Jose Sharks visit Prudential Center to battle the New Jersey Devils. Kevin Labanc got off the schneid with a goal, but New Jersey diced up the Sharks 2-1.

Period 1

1 in: Good play by Couture up high defensively, but San Jose Sharks off to a slow start. Kahkonen made a good early save, he’ll need a good game.

2 in: Tough spot for Lindblom to lose it, stripped trying to come out from DZ high slot. Be careful up the middle.

4 in: Svechnikov loses it in OZ, but does do a good job recovering defensively.

5 in: Great patience by Benning to wait for line change and Barabanov to get open. Devils may be fell asleep. Then I like Hertl just wrapping and stuffing it instead of pass back to point.

6 in: Off OZ draw, Labanc is high man in 2-3 attack.

7 in: Sharks now hemming Devils in, good work by Hertl line.

10 in: Sharks keep it along the wall, force it out. They have to keep on with that.

8 left: Kahkonen with the stretch pass to Sturm. Held my breath for a second there, but nicely done, Martin Brodeur would be proud.

7 left: Don’t like that from Nieto. Barely gets it out, and get what he’s doing, looking for more, but Devils able to turn back quick and draw a penalty.

5 left: Vlasic showing some wheels there on PK exit.

4 left: Awful turnover by Hertl. Telegraphed breakout pass, intercepted in DZ high slot. Those are the big mistakes that Quinn talked about. Sets off a chain reaction of Devils chances.

2 left: Good grind shift by Lorentz, Lindblom to restore some order. But then a Devil jumps on Bonino in front of Kahkonen. Now Meier with a soft guess pass up the middle in NZ…and it leads to a Hertl penalty. Sharks had found some momentum in the middle of the period, but they’re losing it. Poor puck management up the middle.

Period 2

1 in: Simek gets in front of Haula net front at end of PK. Good work.

3 in: Incredible Kahkonen save. I think Labanc doesn’t read it right, he goes for high man instead of staying with trailer. Feel like he’s pressing mentally. I think he’s a better player than this. Between he and Ferraro, someone has to recognize trailer.

KAAPO KAHKONEN!! pic.twitter.com/y0buc6izgX

— Locked on Sharks (@LockedOnSharks) October 22, 2022

6 in: Devils defense does a good job walling off Kunin and company on that Karlsson point shot.

7 in: Save for an early turnover, have liked Lindblom today. Around the puck, in front of net.

Hughes breakaway, another Kahkonen stop.

Hischier goal: Sharks deserved that. High forward Meier chases puck on PP, Devils have pretty clear possession, 2-on-1 the other way.

Think that's a kick: But Sharks have played really sloppy last 15 or so minutes, Kahkonen and a kick bailing them out

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 22, 2022

Sharangovich goal: Vlasic pickpocketed coming out. That was a long time coming for the San Jose Sharks, which have, drumroll, looked like a bad team in the second period. They’re still just down 1-0 though.

This is different than Thursday: I don’t see a consistent four-line commitment to getting the puck behind the defense, trying to grind like in the last game. They’re cheating more, I think.

6 left: I like Svechnikov’s idea, Sharks need to attack net more with puck, but you can’t do that.

Mercer goal: Sharks’ penalty kill wasn’t going to stay perfect. Now it’s been stained, can San Jose Sharks up other areas to make up? Tonight, the forecast says no.

And right when I send that, Labanc! One thing about him when he's on, he's all over the puck. Took it off Hamilton high

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 22, 2022

Period 3

#SJSharks have been outshot 103-51 and outscored 16-4 in the second period this year

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 22, 2022

4 in: Hertl tries a 5-on-5 drop in NZ, easily sniffed out. Tough day for him.

9 left: Hughes misses, it looks like, an open net. San Jose Sharks are in the game, but it doesn’t quite feel like it.

Meier hunched over a couple times, was slow to get back to bench from left OZ dot. I wonder if he's playing through something

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 22, 2022

PP1 is same as last game. Meier then shows spark with a between the legs shot to get an OZ faceoff.

3 left: Early, aggressive pull of KK by Quinn.