Reimer Hurt, Sharks Lose 11th Straight to Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS — The San Jose Sharks head into T-Mobile Arena to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. San Jose is trying to avoid losing their 11th straight, dating back to 2019-20, to Vegas. Noah Gregor snapped a personal slump — he scored his first goal since Jan. 26 — but the Sharks lost James Reimer to injury and they fell to the Golden Knights 3-1.

Period One

Kolesar goal: Ill-advised pinch by Middleton. Jake tries to get back, but Howden makes a perfect pass between a sprawling Burns and Middleton. Very well-timed, even if it means a longer one-timer. Kolesar makes no mistake though.

Five in: For a moment, Viel has puck with time in slot. But he rushes it, clanks off Reedy’s stick. He was under a lot of pressure, but underscores Merkley’s poise with puck that I highlighted in Boston loss.

Seven in: Energetic backcheck by Barabanov. Responsible, sorts out who he should grab to negate three-on-two.

Eight in: Middleton shows a little offense. Finds Weatherby’s stick unmarked in high slot, tip just misses.

Ten in: Huge save by Reimer on unmarked Smith. What happened? Looks like slot was uncovered because Sharks thought Couture had puck in corner. It hopped over his stick though and Marchessault pounced quick to Smith in slot. If anything, maybe Gregor, who was in offensive position in the slot, when Couture bobbles, head up, ID Smith.

Eight left: Huge block by Bonino in slot. San Jose Sharks’ slot coverage a  little porous. Vegas keeps though, and Sharks zombie their way through shift. Another Bonino block and Meloche outbattles McNabb down-low to fork it out.

Four left: Gregor has puck after carom for a moment, maybe wait a second, let Burns build up speed before giving it to him? Sharks guilty of not slowing down game right now.

Marchessault has a breakaway: Looks like Meloche pinched, Meier did not track back hard enough to cover. Vlasic went at Karlsson, expecting support, nowhere to be found except by Reimer. Meier needed to track back harder once it was clear Meloche was out of pocket. And it wasn’t bang-bang, I think Vlasic could’ve hung back, made a better contain read.

Three left: Another ten-bell save by Reimer. Cogliano had puck in high slot in OZ for a second, instead of a direct play, loses it along wall. Whitecloud gets behind the backchecking Cogliano, Reims.

Dzingel chance: Puck bounces over his stick, then McNabb last-second effort stops Dzingel from whacking it again.

Period Two

Reimer will not return tonight, lower-body injury

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2022

Can't say Reimer didn't give it his all: Sharks had some misses from the slot in the first period, but Vegas, per SPORTLOGiQ, had 6-0 Slot Shots on Net advantage. That looked about right

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2022

Gregor goal: That’s good work, by the way, from Gregor to fill open lane.

Hopefully San Jose does a better job defending in front of Sawchenko than they did Reimer

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2022

The San Jose Sharks are defending better in front of Sawchenko: Maybe tonight, instead of Boughner shaming them, seeing Reimer laid up did it.

Then again: Smith simply beats Bonino to spot for cross-slot one-timer. You can argue Vlasic should’ve switched on Smith, Bonino on Marchessault. I think Vlasic can still offer something, but he has been bad, in my mind, tonight. But Bonino’s declining foot speed painfully apparent there.

Sharks have been running these lines for the duration of the period:

Dzingel-Hertl-Barabanov
Meier-Couture-Reedy
Cogliano-Bonino-Gregor
Viel-Weatherby-Nieto

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2022

Three left: Good job by Reedy along wall to keep puck in, then Couture snapped off a beaut pass to Meier on weakside.

Two left: Barabanov slices up Amadio, who was covering. Slick. Slot pass just misses.

Period Three

Sharks did, kind of? Instead of being routed 6-0 Slot Shots (like in first period), they were only edged out 4-2 in middle frame. Improbably, they're still in the game https://t.co/nafGgj45d7

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 2, 2022

First two VGK goals, that was bad defense from San Jose Sharks. There, though, more good offense. Marchessault pulled Burns away from front — that’s okay, Sharks d-man are allowed to play man-to-man high, but cleverly, Marchessault skating away from Burns fired a shot-pass to Karlsson, who intentionally tipped it to Smith. Have to believe Marchessault skating away added a layer of deception to what he had planned there. Bonino should’ve stayed back on Smith.

Ten left: Once again, San Jose Sharks need to find offense somewhere and there are no answers. VGK 8-2 shots and a goal in a game where San Jose is down.

Five left: Green play by Reedy, leads it too far for Meier.

Four left: Dzingel on forecheck creates brief San Jose Sharks possession, but nothing doing.