SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks had probabilities within the third interval to take management of their recreation with the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday evening at SAP Middle.
However a handful of missed energy play alternatives opened the door to a different blown lead and one other disappointing loss.
Main by one, the Sharks within the third interval allowed three straight targets and misfired on two important energy play probabilities in a 4-2 loss to the Avalanche.
Up 2-1, the Sharks failed on one energy play probability, and, after the Avalanche tied the sport, failed on one other, dropping a chance to take the lead.
Simply 12 seconds after a tripping penalty on Avalanche ahead Valeri Nichushkin ended, Joel Kiviranta scored to provide Colorado a 3-2 lead. Kiviranta then scored on the 15:58 mark to assist put the sport away and hand the Sharks their third straight loss and their sixth in seven video games.
Carl Grundstrom and William Eklund scored for the Sharks, and goalie Alexandar Georgiev completed with 27 saves as San Jose completed its homestand with a 0-3-0 file. San Jose now finishes its pre-Christmas schedule with highway video games in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
The Sharks additionally held third-period leads in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership and Winnipeg Jets to begin the homestand. However turned the primary group in NHL historical past to lose three consecutive video games in regulation, all at house, after having a lead within the third interval in every recreation.
The Sharks went 0-for-4 on the ability play in opposition to Colorado, and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, acquired from San Jose earlier this month, completed with 32 saves.
The Sharks gave up a tying objective to Mikko Rantanen on the 8:26 mark of the third interval, simply 27 seconds after Barclay Goodrow was referred to as for holding Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.
The Sharks checked onerous within the first two durations, taking away time and area from Colorado’s playmakers, and took a 2-1 lead into the ultimate 20 minutes of regulation time.
After Grundstrom scored his first objective as a Shark on the 4:26 mark of the second interval, Eklund gave San Jose a 2-1 lead 5:03 later.
The Sharks created a turnover within the Avalanche finish, resulting in a shot try by Cody Ceci. The Sharks defenseman adopted that up and nudged the puck over to Eklund, who beat Blackwood from in shut for his sixth objective of the season.
The Avalanche challenged the play, feeling officers missed a recreation stoppage occasion, believing Eklund hit the puck with a high-stick just a few moments earlier than the objective.
After a assessment, the NHL’s State of affairs Room supported the referee’s name on the ice that Eklund’s stick was not above the traditional peak of his shoulders when he contacted the puck at 10:36 of the second interval – 5 seconds earlier than his objective. The choice was made per Rule 80.1.
Grundstrom took a excessive sticking penalty simply 3:07 into the primary interval, and the Avalanche, with the Tenth-best energy play within the NHL earlier than Thursday’s video games, cashed in.
Makar took a cross from Nathan MacKinnon and fired a shot that simply missed the Sharks’ internet. However Nichushkin collected the free puck beside the Sharks internet, and slid it beneath Georgiev on the 3:40 mark for his ninth objective of the season and a 1-0 Colorado lead.
The Sharks’ capability to guard leads and win shut video games has come into sharper focus this month as they as soon as once more fell to the underside of the Pacific Division.
Since a 5-2 house loss to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 7, the Sharks are 4-5-3 in video games determined by one objective, which incorporates latest shut losses to Carolina, Utah, and Winnipeg and a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues final week.
Earlier than Thursday, San Jose had a 7-7-5 file in one-goal video games this season.
The Sharks at the moment are 9-10-3 file this season in video games during which they both led or have been tied going into the third interval. That sub-.500 factors share just isn’t the place the Sharks wish to be, because it’s barely beneath the .529 mark of final season (23-20-9).
“We’re just learning how to win. We’re a young group that, for whatever reason, we get into those situations,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated Thursday morning. “It’s not just our team in this league, but we are trying to learn how to win, and we’ve seen some improvements through the year, but there’s still a little ways to go.”
LINEUP CHANGES: Defenseman Timothy Liljegren was a wholesome scratch Thursday because the Sharks are dressed Henry Thrun and Shair Mukhamadullin on their third protection pair.
Liljegren was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 30 for defenseman Matt Benning and two draft picks. Liljegren didn’t play within the Sharks’ Oct. 31 recreation in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks however was within the group’s lineup for the following 22 video games, amassing six factors whereas averaging near 19 minutes in ice time.
Liljegren has one level, an help, in his final seven video games and had 16:18 in ice time for the Sharks throughout their 4-3 loss to the Jets on Tuesday. Warsofsky felt a few of Liljegren’s reads and puck choices could possibly be a bit sharper.
KOSTIN UPDATE: Klim Kostin, on injured reserve with an upper-body ailment, skated in a non-contact jersey once more Thursday morning, however Warsofsky couldn’t say whether or not the Russian-born ahead would be part of the Sharks on their upcoming highway journey by means of Edmonton and Vancouver. Kostin, injured within the Sharks’ Dec. 12 recreation in St. Louis, is eligible to return off IR right this moment.
“We’re going to get through today, and then we’re going to cross one more hurdle and figure it out (Friday morning),” Warsofsky stated.
VANECEK UPDATE: Injured Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek was examined by medical doctors on Wednesday, however his standing stays week-to-week, Warsofsky stated Thursday. Vanecek was struck within the face by a puck as he sat close to the Sharks’ bench through the second interval of Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Jets.
Warsofsky stated Vanecek and the group are “still going through some other doctors.” Requested if Vanecek may want facial surgical procedure, Warsofsky stated, “I can’t really get into it until we have a clear plan and when they meet with the doctors.”
Initially Printed: December 19, 2024 at 10:20 PM PST
