Notes #30: Hill Can’t Come Up with Big Stop, Sharks Lose 5-2

The San Jose Sharks welcomed the COVID-battered Vancouver Canucks into SAP Center tonight. But it’s the Sharks who got battered, as Adin Hill couldn’t come up with the big stop, giving up four goals on 29 shots. Timo Meier and Andrew Cogliano scored for San Jose.

Period One

Three in: Good Sharks recovery on Canucks entry. End of his shift though, Karlsson gets roasted off rush by Hughes. Karlsson did not even challenge, almost like he didn’t want to look bad by even trying.

Six in: Like that Hill bump of puck to Gregor in corner. An adventure at times, but like his puckhandling.

Some razzle-dazzle from Halbgewachs pic.twitter.com/vwfbzEpAnH

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 17, 2021

Nine in: Next shift, however, that’s stuff that gets you sat. Outlet pass to Halbgewachs on wall, just clanks off, turnover. That’s not all his fault, of course, but results. Same shift, a Karlsson dead giveaway. A very rough start for him.

Nine left: Couture takes a hit to make pass to Dahlen streaking down slot by himself. Great work by line. Demko save.

Boeser goal: Big rebound by Hill in front. Then Weatherby turnover in the corner, doesn’t decide fast enough what he needs to do. Killer seam pass to Boeser by Pearson. All Pearson there: His shot handcuffed Hill to begin with, he jumped Weatherby, then he seamed it to Pearson. That pass can’t get through Pederson.

Horvat goal: Another seam cross-slot pass. Sharks got to be better.

Meier goal: Much-needed for flailing Sharks. Like Hertl’s traffic in front. That made it impossible for Demko to find Meier after Karlsson shot caromed off to side.

Period Two

Two in: Like Middleton’s decision there from point to miss shot I think on purpose, it rebounds off wall to Halbgewachs for jam. Good cycle shift.

Despite the sloppiness, the San Jose Sharks have had the better period. But it might get undone by another penalty — Halbgewachs gets the gate.

Eight in: Bonino bodies off Garland on wall, wins puck on PK, finds open man. Nice work.

Ten in: Awful change by Canucks, good job by Vlasic to smell it out and hit Halbgewachs for perfect breakaway pass.

Nine left: Good decisions by Gregor and Halbgewachs to simply fire away on PP. Gregor and Barabanov had probably just been guilty of passing too much.

Took Canucks 13 minutes to record their first shot of the second period

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 17, 2021

Six left: Great effort by Gregor to step ahead of Juulsen. Misses shot though.

On the one hand, it’s Boeser. On the other hand, you need to make a save. Burns also appears to be in no man’s land there. He might be waiting for the D-to-D from Ferraro, but Ferraro is under pressure, that D to D pass was probably never coming.

Period Three

Karlsson starts the period with…Ferraro

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 17, 2021

Then Burns with Middleton. This is something.

Like I noted earlier, this isn’t Karlsson’s best night. So interesting game for a change. Karlsson loses it in NZ, Horvat jumps on it, Karlsson seems to have no steam, but Hill does finally get a big save. But oncoming Burns high sticks him.

Seven in: Karlsson giveaway. No one very close. Maybe worst game of season that I’ve seen?

That's going to be Pederson's first point this year — nice area pass that Cogliano's speed skates into

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 17, 2021

Nine left: San Jose Sharks finally getting at it with urgency. Like Middleton on the forecheck — get that puck. Then after faceoff, love when Karlsson does that. On loft dump-in, he baseball swings it forward. It’s efficient, beautiful hockey.

Six left: Good find and patience by Barabanov to Ferraro. Thought there might be a hook there?

Three left: Karlsson turnover, and yea, you need a save. Miller finishes Sharks.