The variety of penalties the San Jose Sharks have taken within the first two weeks of the common season borders on the ridiculous.
The variety of objectives they’ve scored is downright dreadful.
Once more, the Sharks had means an excessive amount of of 1 and never sufficient of the opposite Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Geese, extending their winless skid to seven video games earlier than an introduced sellout crowd of 17,174 at Honda Heart.
With the Nashville Predators beating the Boston Bruins 4-0 earlier Tuesday, the Sharks (0-5-2) are actually the final winless staff within the NHL.
Two of the penalties they took towards the Anaheim Geese on Tuesday had been significantly pricey.
The Sharks allowed power-play objectives to Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson, with Will Smith serving tripping penalties on each events, with Carlsson’s marker on the 5:36 mark of the third interval proving to be the winner.
With the Geese transferring the puck across the Sharks’ zone, Cutter Gauthier obtained a shot on aim that goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped. However Carlsson scooped up the rebound in entrance of the online and beat Blackwood for his third aim of the season.
The Geese’ first aim additionally got here within the second interval, as Terry got here by means of the impartial zone, crossed the blue line, and fired a shot that beat Blackwood excessive to the glove facet on the 6:56 mark of the second interval.
“Obviously, can’t take those types of penalties, the stick penalties,” Sharks coach Ryan Warosfsky stated of Smith. “He’s got to move his feet in certain areas. I thought he did some good things tonight. That was his best first period that I’ve seen him play. So he did some good things, but obviously he can’t take those penalties.”
Carlsson’s aim got here simply 41 seconds after Mikael Granlund scored a power-play aim for the Sharks off assists from ahead William Eklund and defenseman Jack Thompson, with the rookie Thompson gathering his first NHL level.
Alex Killorn scored an empty web aim with 1:51 left within the third interval to seal the win for Anaheim. Smith was bodied off the puck after he got here throughout the Geese blue line, and Killorn picked it up and fired it 150 ft into the empty Sharks web.
The Sharks had been shorthanded six occasions Tuesday — draining vitality and momentum — and have been down a person or extra 35 occasions this season. That’s essentially the most after seven video games for any Sharks staff since 2009-10 after they had been shorthanded 36 occasions.
“Penalties hurt and we couldn’t find a way to win the hockey game,” Granlund stated. “It’s been a story and we’ve just got to find a way to get on the other side of these games and get the win.”
The Sharks proceed their four-game highway journey Thursday in Los Angeles. They may then play in Las Vegas on Saturday and Utah on Monday.
The Sharks have scored 12 objectives in seven video games this season and eight objectives of their final six video games with out injured rookie middle Macklin Celebrini, who can be out for a minimum of one other two weeks with a hip challenge.
“We have practice (Wednesday) and we get back to work. That’s all you can do, go day-by-day,” Granlund stated. “It’s not easy to lose, we all know that. But at the same time, we’re only seven games in, so let’s just keep going and show up to practice.”
Within the final 4 video games, the Sharks worn-down penalty-killing items have allowed 9 power-play objectives.
That was solely half of it. Except for Granlund’s aim, it was one other irritating offensive evening for the Sharks.
Danil Gushchin and Luke Kunin each took turns hitting the crossbar. A exceptional toe save by Lukas Dostal denied Smith his first NHL aim. A tipped shot by Barclay Goodrow slid by means of the blue paint however hit the put up.
Blackwood completed with 37 saves, and Dostal had 27 saves, 10 days after he had 30 saves in Anaheim’s 2-0 win over San Jose at SAP Heart on Oct. 12.
Each Gushchin and Kunin hit the crossbar on odd-man rushes within the first interval. Smith on one other 2-on-1, was denied by Dostal, who stretched his proper leg to disclaim the Sharks rookie middle on a backhand to forehand transfer.
Initially Revealed: October 22, 2024 at 10:08 p.m.
