Hertl Not Missing Much: Sharks Are 1st NHL Team To Lose 9 Straight Games To Start Back-to-Back Seasons

LAS VEGAS — San Jose Sharks visit T-Mobile Arena to take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The 0-6-2 Sharks are trying to avoid being the first team in NHL history to lose nine straight games to start consecutive seasons.

And the Sharks are the first!

Mikael Granlund and Nico Sturm and Luke Kunin scored, but the San Jose Sharks got blown out 7-3.

Period 1

1 in: Good one-on-one by Ferraro on Barbashev, that’s his strength defending.

Pearson goal: Unless that deflects, I think Vanecek should have that. Nightmare start for the Sharks. Last game San Jose scored the first goal was Dallas (Toffoli).

Big block by Zetterlund. That’s playing desperate, which is what San Jose Sharks want in 1st period. Hopefully that rubs off.

Eichel goal: Great pass by Stone, but either Toffoli has to be a little more in the middle (I know he’s covering point) or Ferraro has to be tighter on the one-timer. That’s a high-to-low pass that takes the long road, too long, to Eichel.

6 in: First strong shift by the Sharks, Wennberg line.

8 in: Steal by Smith along wall. But nothing comes of it.

9 left: Good defending in corner, Zetterlund on Eichel, take it away.

7 left: Smith with a you can’t do that turnover. Backhand pass from DZ corner, picked off by Dorofeyev. You want him to play his game…but not there.

6 left: Huge save by Vanecek on Barbashev. Ceci tried to take the pass coming around net because that Shark got beat, but that exposed a pass for Barbashev.

5 left: Think Toffoli got away with a trip? Anyway, tough game for him so far, hasn’t been able to find small spaces like normal.

Howden goal: Vegas having fun. Great Hertl assist, cross-slot, under Rutta. Slam dunk for Howden.

Golden Knights 22-3 shots, last San Jose Sharks’ shot was Ferraro at 8:56 left.

Natural Stat Trick: Vegas 31-11 5v5 Corsi, 15-5 Scoring Chances, 4-1 High-Danger.

Period 2

Looks like Eklund-Granlund-Toffoli reunited, Kunin up with Wennberg & Zetterlund, Smith between Goodrow & Dellandrea

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 27, 2024

Walman slips Barbashev on the blueline, nice play.

But then Kunin goes off for high sticking. Stone had wanted, I think, Kunin called for something earlier, as Stone was coming down the slot and Kunin was marking him.

8 in: Actually good defensive staple and pin by Smith.

Granlund goal: Nice individual effort by the centerman, just attacked the net by himself. First 5-on-5 goal for Sharks since Winnipeg. Now 11 of 16 San Jose Sharks goals scored by Granlund, Toffoli, and Zetterlund.

Kunin draws a call. Big spot for Sharks power play, suddenly back in the game.

Karlsson goal: Awful play by Vanecek there. Understand what he was trying to do, of course. But just poor timing. He wasn’t close, he was overconfident in his ability to get there.

9 left: Smith smokes a pass that needed touch. And that power play, supposed momentum, has been all disastrous. And now Goodrow takes a penalty, not a necessary hooking.

Gushchin has been moved down to the fourth line.

5 left: Eichel blows by Thompson. Welcome to the NHL!

Grundstrom penalty: San Jose Sharks trying to play desperate, but leading to penalties. Thrun down low just missed, Samsonov was down, smart long shot by Zetterlund for rebound.

Dorofeyev goal: Golden Knights just moving the puck around at will. Dispiriting period, Sharks actually played well at 5-on-5, but special teams sinks them. Of course, San Jose probably benefits from score effects, but the shortie and a power play goal given up are self-inflicted wounds.

Sturm goal: First goal by a Shark not named Granlund since 10/20 vs. Colorado (Eklund). Last 4 Sharks goals scored by Granlund.

Period 3

Here’s “good” news for Warsofsky: He’s still a couple games from the worst start to an NHL coaching career ever. Andre Tourigny lost his first 11 games (0-10-1) with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021-22.

2 in: Someone lost the Vegas trailer there. Tape review is going to be ugly, if you bother.

3 in: I do enjoy watching Granlund play, more than any other current Shark. Never is out of a play. He probably should be like your third or fourth-best forward on a better team, or lower, though.

6 in: Howden shakes Thompson behind the net. Still have questions about his defending.

Stone goal: I don’t put this entirely on the pairing, but as I’ve harped on, Ferraro-Rutta not a strong puckmoving pairing. Kills them. Started with an actual Sharks OZ faceoff win, but Rutta, I think, heeled the D-to-D pass to Ferraro. Then Ferraro plays genuinely really good one-on-one defense on Eichel, wins the puck on an attack into slot. But then Ferraro pass up to Eklund, or clear really, too hot for Eklund to handle at center ice. Another Vegas counterattack. Now in defense of this pairing, there really isn’t an obvious fix. I think Thompson too raw for top-four duty and Mukhamadullin still coming back from injury. Thrun isn’t ready either for top-four but he’s probably more ready than Thompson, so maybe you try Ferraro-Thompson, Thrun-Rutta. Make them two 2.5 pairings. I don’t know.

Kunin goal: Nice spin-o-rama move by Zetterlund to make space for himself. Pick that up from Eklund? Good job by Kunin to put in the garbage.