Notes #23: Sharks Frustrate Isles 2-1

ELMONT, N.Y. — The San Jose Sharks take on a slow-starting New York Islanders team. If you can believe it, Sharks are the far superior defensive team so far this year — San Jose is sixth in Quality Chances Against, New York is twenty-first.

Period One

It looks like Palmieri with a big block on Meier, the Sharks were buzzing to start game.

And here’s why the Palmieri block mattered: Hill gives up one he wants back off the stick of Barzal. UBS Arena is loud.

Gadjovich’s skate might have clashed with Dobson’s. Went off, no weight on left leg. On replay, it was a shot block.

Five in: Gimme Simek to Vlasic pass misses by a mile there. Someone has to do better there.

Burns unit have been careless with puck on the first PP.

Meier a got a little lucky with his pass through four Isles sticks, but Dahlen beats his one defender, right through the wickets, they’re slow to rotate on Bonino. Basically a PP goal but not.

Nine left: Outstanding battle win by Labanc one on one versus Greene.

Seven left: Bonino’s stick is so strong.

Four left: After a couple San Jose Sharks turnovers, good job by Karlsson to kill play behind net, good pop in his feet as he steps in front of Bailey and takes it away.

Two left: Hertl first to wall to bat it out. He’s had jump at both ends tonight.

Minute left: Great Couture line forecheck and chances. Textbook for them.

Period Two

The San Jose Sharks had a solid first by my eye and per SPORTLOGiQ:

In all, liked that period for San Jose: Per SPORTLOGiQ, SJS 4-1 Slot Shots. Liked how Sharks kept Isles to outside or had stick on man when NYI tried to pass it inside

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 3, 2021

One in: What a a shift from Hertl line. Balcers with a golden chance. Isles do storm back, but Karlsson relieves pressure with timely glass and out.

Four in: Like Meier’s defensive stick in high slot, gives Isles nothing.

Six in: Authoritative shift by Gregor. Coming out of corner, feints to point, then cuts toward middle to shoot. Then distributes puck coolly under pressure on far side. He may have taken a leap.

Next shift, Mayfield rubs out Meier one on one. That’s impressive in this day and age of Timo.

Seven in: Off PP faceoff, Karlsson has it up high, gives it to Barabanov — who’s not showing or feinting shot. Sharks had possession forever on that PP, but my critique is in general, no threat of one-touch anything. Just the threat of, by the way — that could mean so much.

Nine in: What a feed by Meier to find Dahlen by himself. Giant Sorokin stop.

Seven left: There’s a PP one-timer by Barabanov. Save, there had been too much dusting off.

Five left: Love that pick by Dahlen.

So much I liked here: Couture knows where Isles breakout pass is going, then Dahlen skates down center lane, basically runs a legal pick on the two Isles d-men, leaving Meier vs. Sorokin pic.twitter.com/X6HawzIYHU

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 3, 2021

Three left: Clever by Barabanov, trapped at wall by himself, holds, three Isles converge, he passes it out for a chance.

Period Three

The San Jose Sharks were terrific in second, but nothing to show for it. They aren’t a team blessed with a lot of natural finish. Even a Meier is more volume shooter than a natural goal scorer.

First two Middleton shifts: Very nice job to stay with Barzal, not let him take you to the outside. Then next shift, break-up of Palmieri. What a meteoric rise for Middleton.

Seven in: Huge save by Hill there. Sharks can’t corral bouncing puck, Barzal pounces, one on one, but Adin comes through.

Ten in: Good job by Labanc to sink down and help Middleton with speedier Koivula.

Nine left: Love that urgency off DZ faceoff by Karlsson up high on Barzal.

Eight left: Gregor there in slot to pick off Isles pass, then skates it out himself. Good shift.

In some ways — good ways — this San Jose Sharks team has become the Islanders. A sludgy, hard to play against, shot-blocking team.

OT

Wow. Meier to Karlsson.