Thoughts on Bordeleau’s Debut, Sharks Lose 10th Straight

The San Jose Sharks look to snap their nine-game losing streak in Minnesota. Thomas Bordeleau made his NHL debut and earned his first point, and the Sharks built a rare (during this losing streak) third period lead off goals by Rudolfs Balcers, Matt Nieto, Noah Gregor, and Nick Bonino — but they lost it in OT 5-4.

Period 1

First Bordeleau touch on first shift: A touch pass to nobody in the neutral zone. He’ll learn what he can and can’t do at this level.

Kulikov goal: Meier turnover, goes to the middle, it’s swallowed up.

Spurgeon goal: Bordeleau has right idea, rim it, pick the forechecker, but Balcers can’t reach the rim. Wonder if Balcers expected a pass and not a rim there. It’s a turnover and a long shot that eludes Reimer.

Balcers goal: Gregor does great job sticking with it, looks like he lost it to Fiala, but he sticks on Fiala, gets it back and down. Bordeleau dislodges Gaudreau from it behind net. Would like to pick his brain on how he took it from Gaudreau, his read or luck? His first NHL point!

Bordeleau in select company pic.twitter.com/MSWodx6t0l

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 17, 2022

3 left: Bordeleau goes for the 2-on-1 pass but Boldy not biting. Before that, think Fiala was Bordeleau’s man.

Honestly, think Bordeleau was a little overwhelmed in his debut period. This isn’t the NCAA or even the AHL. Nothing to read into, it’s normal. Let’s see if he adapts in the next frame. In fairness, the San Jose Sharks as a whole were jumped by the Wild.

#SJSharks lucky to be down 2-1: #MNWild 8-1 Slot Shots at Even Strength (H/T @SPORTLOGiQ), 5-1 High-Danger Attempts (H/T @NatStatTrick)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 17, 2022

Period 2

Nieto goal: Looks like a Couture turnover high, but LOVE the effort by Couture and Burns to backcheck and even guys coming back. Burns turns up the Wild drop pass, then Bonino makes a crafty backhand pass with touch up to Nieto. Fantastic sequence.

1 in: Like the Bordeleau drop pass to Vlasic. The flair of it, if anything. That’s some of the patience and fun he’s got.

#SJSharks PP1 has Burns-Hertl-Meier-Dahlen-Reedy, PP2 is…NVM but Bordeleau will be on it

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 17, 2022

5 in: Little things, unforced offsides by Balcers, San Jose Sharks had dangerous possession on entry. Not all on Balcers, Bonino slows up. But little things.

6 in: Bordeleau and Gregor have a brief 2-on-1, created by hard work by Hatakka and Chmelevski along wall. Bordeleau puts puck between legs for a sec, keeping opponent guessing, but the Wild read that he’s going for a pass, never gets to Gregor. I bet Bordeleau will get told he’s got to be more of a shot threat. Boldy follows with a goal.

10 in: What a lead pass from Meier to Merkley.

Gregor goal: Nice job by Bordeleau to step in front of Goligoski rim. Not sure how the veteran defenseman didn’t see him, but right time, right place for the rook.

Merkley-Bordeleau-Couture-Bonino-Weatherby are PP2.

6 left: Merkley got a Benn to go down. Ankle breaker.

4 left: When Vlasic penalty gets called, Bordeleau watching the middle of ice looks up in frustration. Small thing, but he probably shouldn’t be showing up refs like that in his first NHL game. But yeah, like Remenda says, quick stick to strip puck on delayed penalty.

2 left: Bordeleau stops up in NZ, tries to hit trailer Merkley. Good idea, doesn’t work out, but I like.

The San Jose Sharks showed much better stuff in the middle frame: SJS 3-2 Slot Shots on ES, 2-2 High-Danger at 5v5.

Period 3

Understand Meier standing up for himself, but you can’t do that. Not to place and time. But Bonino short-handed! Great entry by Hertl. Gotta be sweet for Nick to do that on his old team and old friend (Fleury).

That's just the 2nd time that #SJSharks have had a 3rd period lead during this nine-game losing streak. Had a 1-0 lead vs. Edmonton on Apr. 5 (lost 2-1 in OT)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 18, 2022

5 in: Fantastic Balcers pass springs Gregor, Bordeleau gets ahead of Goligoski for 2-on-1. Fleury makes the save.

Boldy goal: Meloche had it for a moment before Wild forecheck jumped on him. That’s tough. I wrote yesterday about Meloche’s solid defense but poor puck-moving capabilities. Minnesota forecheck is among league’s best, he got double-teamed, but if Meloche wants to stay in this league for good, he’ll need to do better. I will say — he even lost it in a safe place — he’s cautious. That’s an overall good.

8 left: Couture centering pass, but good Spurgeon stick on Nieto. Grade-A otherwise.

Another late retaliatory Meier penalty.

2 left: That’s real good Meloche defending.

OT

Couture-Nieto-Burns to start. Giving Kaprizov that McDavid treatment.