Sharks Win! Snap 11-Game Losing Streak

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Philadelphia Flyers into SAP Center, the 0-10-1 Sharks trying to avoid NHL history.

Preview/Lines #12: Sharks Trying To Avoid History Tonight

Anthony Duclair and William Eklund scored — hold on, I fainted — and the Sharks WON 2-1.

Period 1

Quinn starting out with #SJSharks 4th line, that hasn't been the norm. Smith-Carpenter-Kunin-Vlasic-Burroughs. We'll see if they can set a tone

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 8, 2023

Might be best-looking hockey that I've seen from #SJSharks all year: Emberson patient vs. forecheck, bounces it to Granlund. MG hits Labanc in stride. KLB stretches out to have a clear passing lane, and Duclair slams it home on the one-timer. 3 straight passes in this economy?!

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 8, 2023

Deslauriers 10-9 TKO. A true heavyweight bout. Smith held his own until the end. Smith’s first fight as a San Jose Sharks player, took 12 games.

5 in: Big kill for the Sharks here. They’ve lost a lot of momentum on the kill early in games this year.

Kunin with a couple strong plays on the kill, last one a stick on a potential one-timer in the slot. Okhotiuk also getting some time on PK.

7 in: Small play, Ferraro has a chance after his dump-in to be the F1, but he sees that he may not win the puck and he peels back. That’s a small example, it looks like, of not doing too much, trusting your teammates, your forwards to do their jobs.

8 left: Solid work along the wall by Vlasic.

Good on Kunin: Took it on himself to go after Konecny after Konecny bumped Blackwood

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 8, 2023

4 left: Ferraro does this well, he sees vulnerability, Couturier with back to Sharks net, trying to skate it up to point, he closes.

Duclair again, he’s leading, draw penalty.

3 left: Hertl now first in when Flyers try to push Zetterlund crashing the net around. Have to think Grier and Quinn are liking this first period so far, at least the energy shown.

2 left: 30 seconds left on PP, Quinn throws out a normal line, Sturm line with Vlasic and Burroughs. I suspect he’s trying to just get out the period with a lead, give his guys a feel-good intermission.

1 left: Oh boy. Farabee almost has a breakaway. Rutta does stop it with a last-second defensive play, he’s done that a couple times tonight, but then he takes a high sticking.

Planned soft clear by Ferraro? Kunin closes to get it out.

Sharks need to clean up the turnovers. Flyers, per SPORTLOGiQ, up 5-1 on Turnover Scoring Chances at ES.

More About Grier’s Team Meeting With Sharks

Period 2

Good PK clear started by Carpenter in opening minute. Gets puck but in vulnerable backhand position. Instead of a weak backhand along the boards, he passes it back to his defenseman on the forehand, who rifles it out.

Granlund on the power play point with Zetterlund, Eklund, Duclair, and Hertl. Followed by Burroughs-Zadina-Hoffman-Kunin-Labanc.

Granlund has a spark tonight.

4 in: Okhotiuk cuts off Farabee high, like, good feet. But then can’t get out.

Flyers 15-5 shots, so while there’s been good for the Sharks, they gotta pick it up.

5 in: Hertl dipsy-doodle. Haven’t seen a ton of that, as discussed on podcast, but he got a good pass from Eklund.

6 in: That’s an ugly third line shift. Gotta do better. Then next shift, forecheck on you, Smith has to punt and get it out, not that turnover.

8 left: Good job by Eklund to suck in forecheck high, then find open area in center lane.

7 left: Big Blackwood save on Atkinson. He’s been more than steady and the San Jose Sharks, though not perfect, have given him a chance.

Then good patience by Emberson under duress to make a small pass for breakout. Like.

5 left: After a Duclair turnover, I liked his start to the game, but I think he’s played a sloppy period, Sharks power play negated by Granlund penalty.

Then Eklund cut off by Walker. Gotta get better there.

Sanheim penalty: Nice job by Ferraro, draws penalty with good effort down OZ wall. Just moving your feet at all times puts pressure on opposition.

Fold the Flyers: That's the first 2-goal lead for #SJSharks this season

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 8, 2023

Eklund goal: Love to see that up from Eklund after some downs tonight. That’s not a shot that he had, I think, when the Sharks drafted him.

There was a faint murmur of “We want tacos” after Eklund goal, but Sharks as usual manage to snatch defeat from jaws of victory. 2:33 later, they let Farabee come down unmarked, Blackwood almost comes up with a Save of the Year candidate, but…even with a save, WTF? Looks like Kunin, under duress, doesn’t get it deep enough, but the bigger problem is that all the forwards go off for the change. Walker stretches it up, Sharks D left on a Flyers 4-on-2 more or less. That’s a gift. Honestly a mush-brained change with under two minutes to go.

Period 3

1 in: Another big kill, like Granlund’s enthusiasm, but too much.

4 in: Vlasic knocks down Sanheim in corner. His game has been pretty good today.

7 in: San Jose Sharks just defending in this period. They gotta finish this off, it’s there for them. Just clearing it out and hoping right now, not breaking out together.

8 in: That’s a must exit for Duclair.

9 in: I might have to do a shift by shift, but I’ve really liked Ferraro’s game. Maybe I’m wrong, but when I’ve noticed him, it’s been good.

10 left: To use Grier’s words, some “crazy reads” here from the San Jose Sharks. Smith then Rutta make unsuccessful pinches, leading to a full Konecny breakaway. Blackwood!

7 left: Good job by Smith to chase puck carrier out, not worry about puck. Like.

4 left: Zadina cold shoulders York. Like.

3 left: Whoa Duclair takes advantage of a turnover, breakaway, post. That would’ve brought house down. I haven’t always liked his puck management tonight, but can’t question his passion and speed.

Really good Granlund defensive shift with Ersson pulled.