Good News? Just 10 Games Left This Season, Sharks Lose 7-2

The San Jose Sharks visit Rogers Arena to take on the Vancouver Canucks. Tomas Hertl and Andrew Agozzino got goals, but the Sharks got steamrolled 7-2.

Period 1

Miller goal: Just an unacceptable Hertl pass to Karlsson.

Kuzmenko goal: Really nice play by the Canucks, not very good defense by the San Jose Sharks. Beauvillier does a really nice job sucking Knyzhov to him. Pettersson beats Lorentz, and a stationary Beauvillier dishes the puck to him. Pettersson is quick, but I wonder if Lorentz was puck-watching on Beauvillier, maybe thought he and Knyzhov would switch. Then Ferraro, watching Pettersson ahead of Lorentz, doesn’t get on Kuzmenko, who dekes him and finishes on an in-tight backhand.

Hertl goal: Drew did a nice job breaking down Peterson’s contribution here. On backcheck, he interrupts Di Giuseppe. Then he drives center lane and gives it to Karlsson.

3 left: Gregor does a nice job to jump to bat Hertl’s high pass down, then hard pass back to Hertl to not lose possession. A lot of skills at play here.

Joshua goal: I think that’s on Labanc more than anything? He gets caught puck-watching in NZ, becomes a 3-on-2 past him. He appears to be looking like he wants to knock down a pass and counterattack, instead of simply staying with his man in Aman. Sharks defensemen have to handle Aman and Garland, leaving Joshua to his own devices. Just not a very good defensive read.

4 Slot Shots apiece, Canucks 4-2 High-Danger at 5-on-5. San Jose Sharks haven’t been so awful except for those big mistakes.

3 of Joshua's 10 goals this season against #SJSharks

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 24, 2023

Period 2

#SJSharks PP1 is Karlsson-Couture-Hertl-Barabanov-Labanc, PP2 is Pouliot-Gregor-Kaut-Agozzino-Zetterlund

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 24, 2023

Labanc penalty: That’s an easy to make call. NBC stat, telling, 11 of Labanc’s 15 penalties have been in the offensive zone. Not a good penalty, Pettersson close to boards, back completely to you, you have to take more caution.

9 in: Not a good Karlsson play, gets the puck high, tries to make a play to trailer, easily picked off, 3-on-1 the other way. Good save by Reimer, though I don’t think Canucks got shot they wanted there.

Garland goal: Starts with a bad Hertl turnover in OZ. He tries a tough pass. But San Jose Sharks have the men back. But then, Ferraro and Pouliot stand with Dries, leaving Garland open on far side of net.

Sleepy middle frame for the Sharks, Canucks 6-0 Slot Shots.

Period 3

5 in: Karlsson shakes and bakes along the wall and gets it in front for a chance. Fun stuff from him.

Agozzino goal: Good for him! First NHL goal in three years. First-ever shortie too. He is prolific with the shorties in the AHL though, 12 over his career.

Podkolzin goal: Dekes Hertl out of his pants to claim the middle of the ice, then just zips it past Reimer. He might want that back, but that was a screamer.

Hughes goal: Long one, but actually appears that Reimer saw it despite the traffic in front. Not sure why he missed that one. Easy for me to say, of course. But he seemed to be tracking it until he wasn’t.

4 left: Sturm doesn’t give up. Still grinding behind the net to try to come up with the puck. To quote “The Wire”, Sturm giving a fuck when it’s not his turn to give a fuck. Can always count on him for that.