Sharks Locker Room: Quinn Has Never Seen Heartbreaking Season Like This, Sturm on Injury

It was Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, and it was heartbreak on Thursday for the San Jose Sharks.

5th time this season #SJSharks allowed a game-winning goal within the final 3 minutes of regulation (most in NHL), 2nd time in the final minute (Oct. 29 vs TB, 19:03 of 3rd). #NHLStats #HockeyTwitter #SJSvsVGK

— Darin Stephens (@SharksStats) February 17, 2023

With 16.6 seconds left, William Carrier scored the game-winner for the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Sharks dropped a 2-1 decision.

Nico Sturm talked about his injury and Kaapo Kahkonen’s performance. Kahkonen shared his thought process on one of his biggest saves of the night. And San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn shared his exasperation with this devastating season – and a little ire toward the refs that gave Vegas seven power plays and San Jose one.

See Nico Sturm’s interview here

Nico Sturm, on how he felt after coming back after blocking a shot with perhaps his right elbow:

Not great, obviously. Was pretty limited to what I could do out there. Obviously couldn’t take any draws. So felt pretty useless out there. Just try to skate.

Sturm, on if this is the best that he’s seen from Kaapo Kahkonen:

He’s had a good couple of games ever since the All-Star break.

It’s good to see him rebound from the first half. He’s the guy that’s always one of the first guys at the rink and always does extra work. I’m happy for him that he’s been able to turn it around a little bit here lately.

Sturm, on Golden Knights’ 7-1 power play advantage:

It certainly did feel a little bit lopsided. I thought there were a couple of softies in there, for sure. That’s all I’m going to say.

See Kaapo Kahkonen’s interview here

KAAPO AGAIN. HOW?! pic.twitter.com/RXwfZi2MgC

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) February 17, 2023

Kaapo Kahkonen, on what went through his mind on his one-on-one stop of Shea Theodore in the third period:

First of all, you’re just trying to get over and across and take away a lot of net. Good players, obviously, they have the patience.

Once you get over, you try to control yourself as much as you can, try to be able to stop, be able to push across if you can. He made a good play. I just tried to battle at that point, obviously, I got a piece of it. So that was nice.

See David Quinn’s interview here

David Quinn, if he’s ever seen a season like this, in terms of heartbreaking losses, in his hockey experience:

No, never. 30 years, never seen anything like it.

Quinn, on the San Jose Sharks penalty kill and the lopsided penalty differential:

Listen, I don’t want to go down that path. But be hard pressed to find a hockey game where one team takes seven penalties and one team takes one.

So frustrating, but give our penalty kill a ton of credit. They did a hell of a job.

Our goalie was outstanding tonight. I thought it was his best game of the year.

It’s just real disappointing that we weren’t able to finish it off the last 17 seconds.

Quinn, on how he saw William Carrier’s game-winner:

Just blown coverage. It was a simple faceoff play and we just blew coverage.

Quinn, on Kevin Labanc’s performance tonight:

Yeah, he was definitely better tonight. I liked his compete. I thought he was on pucks. I thought that was a guy that we’re going to need to see here for the rest of season.