Sharks Blow Another 3rd Period Lead, Lose 5-3 to Sens

OTTAWA — San Jose Sharks visit Canadian Tire Centre to take on the Ottawa Senators.

Tyler Toffoli and Timothy Liljegren and Will Smith scored, but the Sharks lost 5-3.

Period 1

Nice start, Ferraro to Smith, who tucks it to Wennberg in slot, Ullmark glove.

2 in: Dellandrea has Ullmark in his sights, in tight…and circles back to drop to no one. I’m sure he thought someone was there, but not a good approach…be confident, try to beat the goalie. This isn’t Hasek circa 1995 in front of you.

4 in: San Jose Sharks being too cute, Kunin has an outnumbered going in, Sharks are doing a good job forcing turnovers, but he isn’t direct either, tries to drop it for Goodrow, it’s intercepted. Up 5-1 shots, but this is doing that without playing super overall, not taking advantage of Sens’ sleepiness.

7 in: Kunin gets puck, attacks net twice, I would guess that message was given on the bench, be direct, north-south. Now to get some goals to really exploit Ottawa doldrums.

8 in: Good Smith backcheck.

9 in: Kostin draws the call with hard puck pursuit. Nod to Sharks past and present next, Eklund shakes Norris beautifully along wall on PP. Somewhere, Doug Jr. is smiling.

Pinto goal: Breakaway, but of course, considering Sharks were up 11-1 shots, would love a save. Timing. But it’s really not his fault, of course. Tough-to-handle Smith pass to Eklund in bumper, he falls, puck comes out toward point. Walman probably shouldn’t chase the puck, Grieg and Pinto outnumber him, and it looks like Celebrini and Smith slow to recognize disaster unfolding. But once Walman pinches, doesn’t win puck, it’s terror from there.

Sharks have allowed 7 shorties this seasom, second most in the league (Bruins have allowed 8). https://t.co/IHiLix2PGu

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) March 2, 2025

6 left: Gorgeous work by Wennberg, Smith gives him a soft exit pass, Wennberg kicks it up to his stick in NZ, stickhandles his way to OZ, keeps feinting while multiple Sens hang back, waiting for a Shark to join him. Granted Ottawa was passive there, but Wennberg also dangerous enough, they respect his handle, so they back off.

Dellandrea penalty: Somehow, Stutzle falls after his stick gets slashed. No doubt that Dellandrea deserves his call, but known embellisher Stutzle could’ve got called there, I think that’s why Dellandrea was unhappy.

Somehow, backward momentum from Dellandrea slash launches known embellisher Stutzle forward https://t.co/42Y4zUOLSr

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2025

2 left: Two Sens tackle Ferraro after whistle…but even up? Walman and Tkachuk both go.

1 left: Stutzle and Eklund pushing at the end there. That’d be an interesting fight!

Except for the cuteness early, can’t really complain about how the San Jose Sharks played, mistakes happen. But I’m sure this script is tired for the team. Play well, can’t win. Adversity!

Period 2

1 in: Mukhamadullin maybe got away with one there, one-on-one puck chase to corner, takes down Amadio well before corner. Shows strength at least!

2 in: Celebrini problem or something for his teammates to know? Celebrini gets puck high while spinning, his mind-set is always get the puck into a high-danger area, he fires it hard into slot, turnover.

Tkachuk penalty: San Jose Sharks get bailed out a little there, they were struggling. Would re-watch that Mukhamadullin shift, about 3 in, tough one for him. Then Ferraro under duress, bad giveaway in slot, leads to more Sens’ domination. He’s gotta make a better play there. But…all that also leads to a Tkachuk penalty.

Toffoli goal: Haha 50-50 with puck before the goal, Eklund trying to keep it in at blueline, Walman is standing way outside, close to center ice. That’s how you prevent shorties! Toffoli pass to Celebrini goes off Sanderson.

8 in: Celebrini strips Chabot, Chabot tries to mug him, draws the call. Great play.

9 in: Beaut Celebrini saucer pass to Smith, PP rush.

Liljegren goal: First goal since Jan. 7, what a shot. Also deflects off a Sen, but hard shot. Second power play unit working it!

9 left: Crafty backhand Graf pass to inner slot to Sturm.

8 left: Kostin good hustle and recognition on backcheck, at least makes life hard for Tkachuk, otherwise a breakaway.

Very nice Goodrow touch up along wall, he’s under pressure, for Dellandrea to skate into coming up center lane with speed. Easy exit, though Goodrow was covered by pinch. Small stuff that keeps Goodrow in line-up, he’s a pro at stuff like that.

7 left: I like that Vanecek read, skittering puck around the left goal line, one Sen and one Shark chasing, looks like the Sen will win, so he aggressively sticks it into corner, at least away from danger.

6 left: Smart Kunin play, Vanecek stick in slot, where goalie can’t get it, Kunin makes hard hockey stop in slot, pushing it over to Vanecek “by accident”.

3 left: Don’t like that high Smith turnover, Norris gets him.  Dangerous area. Smith has improved a lot in that area of the ice recently, but he’s still a rookie.

2 left: Good patience by Kostin on 2-on-1 pass to Graf. Big Ullmark save.

Ferraro penalty: Not sure why Ferraro took Greig down like that? He was pleading his case, so maybe something happened that I didn’t see. Doesn’t look like a good penalty at this point of the game.

San Jose Sharks were worked a bit 5-on-5 in this period, but somehow, came out with the lead. Dominated most of first, was down. That’s hockey.

Period 3

Massive save by Vanecek on Giroux to open period…but Sharks down two men after Graf pitches it out, another delay of the game.

Tkachuk goal: Hello darkness, my old friend. Amazing stat, Sharks have a .474 Winning % leading after two, no other team in NHL has below a .600. Three teams have perfect winning records leading after two.

Stutzle goal: Act of God, he clearly wants Sharks to win Race of Schaef. Zetterlund comes to tap Vanecek in pads, he deserves it. I’m sure Sharks loved that THAT guy scored.

6 in: Not sure I like that Smith read, puck slowly coming to Tkachuk in the NZ, he goes for the steal, getting in front of Tkachuk instead of staying on top of the puck. Tkachuk bats Smith’s stick away like a fly. But Smith did have support, it’s a 2-on-2 on Sens’ entry. So maybe he saw that.

7 in: Eklund loses battle with Zub along wall. He’s in the fight, but that’s a tough one for him to come out with.

Perron goal: Sharks playing catch-up on line change, Dellandrea doesn’t tie up Perron stick on rebound.

9 in: Beaut Smith set-up of Wennberg, long stretch to Smith, D on him, he holds for Wennberg entry.

9 left: One-on-one, Celebrini beats Sanderson wide, great chance, that’s a really good defender he highlights. But Ullmark bests him.

4 left: Whoa, nifty kick pass by Wennberg up to I think Eklund in NZ. I really enjoy watching Wennberg play.

Smith goal: Tic-tac-beauty there. Toffoli definitely got away with a cross-check on Sanderson.