Sharks Get Swept in Season Series With Blues Again, 4-2 Loss

The San Jose Sharks visited the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. Erik Karlsson got the Sharks on the board, Tomas Hertl added another, but St. Louis doubled up San Jose 4-2.

This is a great sweater matchup pic.twitter.com/qTD0QLHChC

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) March 10, 2023

Period 1

2 in: Zetterlund with a couple of blasts, he can fire it. Hopefully, he can develop into a PP2 option with that shot.

Svechnikov (no) goal: It’s close and they called it no-goal. Do like Steven Lorentz blowing by his check, Vrana it looks like. Not an impressive defensive effort there, I think? Then Svechnikov beats Vrana to puck, almost scores.

San Jose Sharks have some jump tonight, not surprising. They had just 13 shots all last game:

Just 8:20 into this game, #SJSharks have 10 shots. They didn't get into double-digit shots last game until the 3rd period

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 10, 2023

Karlsson goal: Great vision by Barabanov there, found Johnsson and Karlsson. Credit to Johnsson too, good defensive effort forces Leddy to cough it up, then on the forecheck, his pressure helps force Thomas turnover pass to Barabanov, who then slides it to Karlsson. Uncredited assist there.

Karlsson sets season-high 83 points in just 66 games, had 82 in 82 in 2015-16. Also ties Burns's #SJSharks franchise record for most defenseman points in a season, set in 2018-19.

His career-high in goals was 21 in 2014-15. Just hit 20 for the 3rd time in his career

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 10, 2023

Krug goal: Looks like San Jose Sharks in pretty good position on counterattack, but Svechnikov just beat, not from lack of effort, by trailer Krug coming back.

8 left: Bad Labanc turnover, on exit, he tries to give it to middle, taken by Leivo. Alexandrov misses a pretty good chance.

7 left: Knyzhov negates odd-man by taking it from Blais one on one. Good work, and leads to…

6 left: Beautiful give and go between Hertl and Eklund. Eklund still looking for his first NHL goal. Eklund blows by Blais for that breakaway.

Took #SJSharks just 15:32 to get as many shots on goal tonight as they did all last game (13) — good to see them playing hard, with some pride

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 10, 2023

1 left: Good tracking by Johnsson, backcheck and takes it off Walker, Barabanov counterattack chance.

Solid San Jose Sharks’ bounceback effort, 6-4 Slot Shots per SPORTLOGiQ, 6-3 High-Danger at 5-on-5 per NST.

Period 2

2 in: Looks like Johnsson getting a look at PP1 over Barabanov? Then good for Eklund to stand up to Faulk who was banging away on Kahkonen after Blues chance. Another disappointing San Jose Sharks power play though. Now 1-of-last-27 since Feb. 12 at Washington.

#SJSharks have scored TWO power play goals in the last month, both against #ALLCAPS. Last time the Sharks scored a power play goal against another team was Feb. 7 in Tampa Bay

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 10, 2023

6 in: Drew is right, good idea by Svechnikov, but you have to execute there. You can’t be trying stuff right on entry, not a safe area.

Kyrou against Karlsson, I remember in 2020-21, Kyrou roasting Karlsson off the wing was memorably bad. Karlsson does better this time, at least keeps Kyrou to outside, still a good chance, good save.

7 in: Not a smart play by Kapanen. He plays puck with broken stick (didn’t play it with stick), but he had more than enough time to drop it right when he broke it.

Blais goal: Not a great pass by Karlsson to Eklund, turnover high, then Knyzhov thinks to pinch on a turnover he had no chance with, just instinct? And Blais has a step. Knyzhov also tries to close on Parayko who’s falling and makes a great play to Blais. Eklund also has to think defense there on turnover. Bad hockey all around.

8 left: Beauty give and go between Zetterlund and Eklund.

Hertl goal: Good defense leads to offense! Not just Barabanov OZ forecheck on Rosen. But even before that, to start shift, Barabanov came back hard on backcheck, cut off pass to trailer Scandella. Then Hertl does good job bullying Alexandrov down low in DZ, forcing a turnover. That puts Barabanov in position for his forechecking heroics.

1 left: Zetterlund tracks back, he cuts off the trailer pass.

Labanc hasn't played since 6:38 left in the first period, had a pretty bad DZ turnover on this shift https://t.co/ezQomNnCOH

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 10, 2023

No matter result, San Jose Sharks should come out of this feeling better about themselves. Just a much better effort all-around, 15-8 Slot Shots, 9-6 High-Danger at 5v5.

Period 3

Beautiful Karlsson to Hertl exchange to start period. Hertl breaks in for entry and so close to a Grade-A chance, just misses drop pass to Zetterlund.

Labanc’s first shift since the first period.

Vrana goal: San Jose Sharks allow Karlsson to get outnumbered down low there.

“This season, the St. Louis Blues have ended an eight-game and six-game losing streaks against the Sharks.” That’s from Randy Hahn and sums up the San Jose Sharks’ season.

10 in: There’s Gregor’s speed, surprises Thomas right in front of Binnington, bang-bang play that the goalie has to make a save on. Also forces a Sharks’ OZ faceoff.

Zetterlund penalty: Not much there, but it is what it is, are we going to complain about the refs again?

Berube wins another versus Sharks, has won last eight since Mar. 2021. Second straight season sweep over Sharks for him.