7 Straight Losses to Start Season, Lightning Fry Sharks 6-0

TAMPA, Fla. — The San Jose Sharks head to Amalie Arena to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning struck and struck and struck, shutting out the Sharks 6-0.

Period 1

Point goal: Well, that’s not the start that the San Jose Sharks wanted. First look, looks like Kunin and Knyzhov took the same man in the slot, leading to a wide-open Point. Looks like Kunin follows Barre-Boulet to slot when he probably should let him go to Knyzhov.

4 in: Benning has stick in right place to get it out on PK.  That qualifies for a highlight for the Sharks so far, down 7-0 shots already.

Eyssimont goal: Hoffman actually plays Eyssimont tough in front, Mikey deflects it while falling in the air past Blackwood. Eat your heart out, Bobby Orr.

Off the draw after goal, Eyssimont and Eklund have a good battle. You like to see that from the youngster.

8 in: Like that drive in by Knyzhov off wing. Keep it basic, get it on net.

10 left: Sharks just defending. Labanc caught out there for line change, then icing. Not blaming him, just reality of Sharks inability to take and possess puck anywhere but in DZ. Then Labanc caught out there for a second icing. Labanc just had a 1:46 shift, all defending.

7 left: Coming up the ice, Sharks finally with a beat of possession, Bordeleau misses his pass, throws it away, Lightning come back around. Puck doesn’t even go deep.

Instead of everyone going off, someone has to go get Blackwood his stick. Is that a communication thing?

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2023

Also an awareness thing. That’s the disappointing stuff.  The Sharks aren’t good, that’s no secret, but they’re struggling to be a team right now. To be connected on the ice. The whole sequence was off a tough Knyzhov turnover on exit, trying to make a play, but bad turnover.

5 left: Finally, a dangerous Sharks chance, Hertl makes a good defensive play up high, sticks it out, Hoffman and Hertl have a 2-on-1.

Benning penalty: The d-man reaches, then Cirelli beats him down slot, forces penalty.

1 left: Big 3-on-5 stop by Blackwood. He’s been good again…

Stamkos goal: But you’re down two men to the vaunted Lightning power play.

#SJSharks giving the Washington Generals a run for their money in that first period pic.twitter.com/bH8gOFYu4D

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2023

#SJSharks have been outscored by 17 goals this season with 2 periods to go tonight. The worst mark in franchise history thru 7 games was -18 in 1992-93

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 27, 2023

Period 2

Looks like Hoffman has been put up with Hertl.

2 in: A little cycle from Peterson line.

3 in: Good Bordeleau bump pass for a temporary Zadina-Kunin 2-on-1.

Hagel goal: Stretch pass, ugly, then Hagel beats Hertl down the ice, it looks like.

Paul goal: Just defending the whole time. Kunin loses stick. Rutta blocks Stamkos shot, Bordeleau leaves his position in the slot to chase a puck that’s not even close to a 50-50, Stamkos slides it to Bordeleau’s man, Paul. I get Bordeleau’s intentions, but Rutta was still in the play after the block, wasn’t time to chase.

Looks like Labanc with Sturm now on fourth line.

8 in: Wow Kucherov just sucks Hoffman in up high along wall, then leaves him in the dust. Not killing Hoffman for that, just elite hockey from Kucherov.

6 left: Good pass by Hoffman to Duclair, I actually think Hoff has had a little spark tonight.

5 left: Good little play from Eklund, quick on forecheck, closes on Raddysh, turns clear Lightning possession into a 50-50, but doesn’t get help.

Labanc penalty: Not much of a call on him. Quinn, Labanc, and Duclair frustrated, as they should be. Negates first San Jose Sharks power play.

Period 3

Might be rearranging the deck chairs on the you know what, but new #SJSharks lines to start third period:

Duclair-Hertl-Zetterlund
Eklund-Sturm-Kunin
Zadina-Peterson-Hoffman
Smith-Bordeleau-Labanc

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 27, 2023

I do like moving Sturm up, Peterson is better at the wing and Bordeleau not ready for full-time NHL duty. Sturm obviously isn’t a second-line center on most teams, but he always competes, always all out, and he’s big and fast.

10 left: Bordeleau knocks Stamkos down up high defensively. I do like that.

7 left: That’s a good stretch pass from Knyzhov to Hertl, Nikolai hasn’t been great with puck tonight.