San Jose Sharks
Sharks Snap Losing Streak, Pull Out 2-1 Win Over Pens

San Jose Sharks welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins into SAP Center.
Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini scored, and the Sharks pulled out a 2-1 victory.
Period 1
Not a complex formula: Turn it over when you try to exit, like Smith does, counterattack the other way. There’s a post and Liljegren takes a penalty. Part of it, subtly too, is Smith makes that pass and all the Sharks act like it’s a good pass, they don’t play to contain what looks more like a 50-50 situation that Smith creates. That’s not just on Smith.
4 in: Walman recovery makes life harder for Bunting on partial breakaway, but Bunting shouldn’t have been that far ahead either with puck. San Jose Sharks playing too loose.
10 in: Good patience by Liljegren behind net to wait a beat before passing it to Toffoli’s forehand along wall. That’s smart puck-moving. Easy exit.
8 left: Good job by Zetterlund to draw that call. Earlier that shift, Granlund stole a puck in the NZ on Tomasino, and also along the wall, took a beat before trying to hit Smith with the pass. Maybe there was a message that the Sharks don’t need to try to play so fast.
5 left: Celebrini could take a beat with some passes, he always puts it into dangerous areas for the opposition, but there was a pass there to Eklund, if he slowed down his pace, might’ve hit Eklund in the forehand instead of the feet. Celebrini was on PP point and Eklund was crashing net hard solo. Grade-A missed.
3 left: Puck lands to Ceci in DZ, again, no rush with puck. D-to-D to Walman, who hits Duehr with speed for easy exit and entry.
2 left: Thompson jumps on loose puck, quick backhand up, turnover. There’s a spot, Thompson had more time to grab it and carry it, no Pens close to him. That could be an example of not forcing pace.
OK response period from the San Jose Sharks after shellacking last game. Better with puck, still not great. Big kill to start second.
Period 2
2 in: Beaut set-up. Eklund let a rim go to Celebrini, who then hit Toffoli with a perfect pass in the slot, big Nedeljkovic save. Letting go that rim just a little bit of deception.
3 in: Smith does great job against Grzelcyk trying to close on him, 2-on-1 with Zetterlund, Smith sucks in the defender to give Zetterlund an open runway. Back-to-back chances right in front for Zetterlund then Smith.
6 in: Kunin not usually the greatest passer, but really nice feed to take a hard pass from his defense, deflect it right into Kovalenko’s wheelhouse coming down center lane.
Granlund goal: Shea throws a pizza to Smith on exit, Zetterlund forecheck influences him. Quick Smith pass, and Granlund does the rest. Smith has been getting strong side OZ draws so far tonight. Think it’s been happening for a few games, based on his game log, I just didn’t notice.
8 in: White had a partial breakaway, sure he would’ve love to bury on his last team.
6 left: Smith takes a beat in NZ, soft pass to Thrun. Obviously Pens vs. Panthers’ forecheck no comparison, but San Jose Sharks’ puck movement much better tonight.
1 left: Worked out, but Liljegren exit pass into double coverage. That’s the kind of stuff that loses you a 1-0 lead.
Good response game so far for the Sharks overall, indication that the coaching staff’s message isn’t lost on them yet. But one more period to go, that dreaded third.
Period 3
Crosby goal: San Jose Sharks actually defend that rush adequately. Celebrini backtrack turns a 3-on-2 even-up. Think Askarov needs to have that, especially timing of it obviously.
2 in: Good Askarov save on Acciari crashing the net.
Celebrini goal: Poor Pettersson pass behind net, Toffoli deflects, then places it into slot, right there is Celebrini. Time for Askarov to lock down, Pens will push, shake off the bad goal.
5 in: Interesting Thrun shift. I thought he negotiated himself out of trouble decently a couple times. Against Hayes line forecheck.
10 in: Toffoli has quietly had an excellent game. Snake-bitten, another Grade-A. Feed from Granlund.
O’Connor penalty shot: Liljegren just fumbled the puck on the PP blueline. Huge Askarov save!
Granlund couldn’t handle the hard PP pass, but he did a pro job of just protecting the puck and keeping Pens from busting out on PK for chance.
8 left: Bunting vs. Thompson one-on-one, Bunting forechecking Thompson, honestly should’ve been a penalty on Bunting in my book, but Thompson also manhandled a bit. There’s an NHL test for Thompson.
6 left: Reprieve! Goalie interference there. Beauvillier did make it impossible for Askarov to get over on the Granlund own goal. Sharks better not waste this.
4 left: Another great pass by Toffoli, just takes that split-second to collect, hits Celebrini with stretch.
Glass penalty: Sharks gifted a PP, but that PP looked tentative. Easy to say obviously with Sharks’ third period issues. Walman takes a penalty. So now it’s hairy once again.