Sharks Game 49 Recap: Sharks 4, Coyotes 2 (4/28/21)

 The Sharks take advantage of a struggling Coyotes team and win 4-2 to sweep the two-game set versus Arizona at home. 

Like the previous game on Monday, it didn't take long for the Sharks to get on the scoreboard, this time from Evander Kane for his 20th goal of the season. This is now the sixth-straight season in which Kane has scored at least 20 goals. Assisting on the first goal of the game were Alex Barabanov, who provided an amazing setup for Kane and has been great for the Sharks ever since joining their roster thus far, and Tomas Hertl. Towards the midway point of the first period, Rudolfs Balcers makes a nifty backhanded shot to give the Sharks a two-goal lead, with Logan Couture and John Leonard getting the assists on the second goal. Balcers has been a very impactful player for San Jose ever since he was picked up on waivers back in February. Kevin Labanc returned to the lineup Wednesday night and scored at approximately the 14-minute mark to make it 3-0 Sharks, with Noah Gregor and Alexander True setting up the play nicely for Labanc to bury it in the mostly empty net. About a minute later, Phil Kessel gets the Coyotes on the board to make it 3-1 through one period of play. 

Early in the second period, the Coyotes got within one after Johan Larsson took advantage of Tomas Hertl mishandling the puck in front of Josef Korenar. Lastly, Tomas Hertl finds the empty net to put this one away for good, getting assists from Mario Ferraro and Logan Couture.

A few weak points for the Sharks in this game were their power play and some bad officiating not going their way, but these factors didn't have a huge effect on the outcome of this game. 

Josef Korenar performed well in this one and better compared to Monday night, getting his second NHL win and stoping 28 of 30 shots against. In addition, Brinson Pasichnuk made his NHL debut for the Sharks Wednesday night, recording one hit and two penalty minutes in roughly eight-and-a-half minutes of ice time. 

Patrick Marleau hit yet another milestone Wednesday night: his 1,600th game in Teal. He becomes only the second player in NHL history alongside Gordie Howe to play 1,600 games with one franchise. 

Another great win by the Sharks, and it's awesome to see the further development of their younger players. They are looking to carry their momentum into Colorado Friday and Saturday for their next miniseries against the Avalanche. Friday's game in Denver is at 6 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 48 Recap: Sharks 6, Coyotes 4 (4/26/21)

 The Sharks snapped their season-long eight-game skid Monday night as they defeated the Coyotes 6-4 in their first home game in front of fans in over a year. 

It only took 17 seconds for the Sharks to score the first goal of the game by Noah Gregor. Gregor was almost behind the net when he shot the puck and caught Darcy Kuemper off guard. A few minutes later, Brent Burns scores from the blue line to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead early in this one. Evander Kane may have appeared to tip in the second goal, but he ended up getting an assist on the play along with Tomas Hertl. 

Early in the second period, Logan Couture scores off the rebound, and Erik Karlsson launches one from the point to go up 4-0. Greg Pateryn gets his first point as a Shark on the Cooch goal, while Timo Meier is credited with the secondary assist on that play, which happens to be his 100th NHL assist. In addition, Evander Kane tallies his second assist of the night on the Karlsson goal. However, the Coyotes begin to mount a comeback in the second period by scoring the next three from Michael Bunting, Clayton Keller, and Jacob Chychrun to get within one early in the third. 

Later in the third, Alexander Barabanov scores his first NHL goal to go back up by two, with Evander Kane getting his third assist of the night and Tomas Hertl getting his second assist of the night. Barabanov basically had an empty net in front of him when scoring his first NHL goal and what was essentially the  game-winner. Following Barabanov's goal was Jacob Chychrun's second goal of the game to put the Coyotes within one again. Evander Kane sealed the deal with about a minute remaining in the third with an empty-netter for his fourth point of the night. Mario Ferraro tallied the lone assist on the Kane empty-netter. 

Josef Korenar records his first NHL win Monday night, making 21 saves on 25 shots against. He also becomes the youngest Sharks goalie to record his first NHL win at 23 years, 85 days. 

Other notable lineup changes include Ryan Donato and Kevin Labanc not playing in this one due to injury. 

Overall, this was a huge and much-needed win for Team Teal, and having some fans in attendance at SAP Center was a huge contributing factor in the Sharks ending their long losing streak. Hopefully San Jose can build on this win for the rest of the season as they continue to prepare for next season. The second game in this two-game set is tomorrow night at 7:30 pm PT. 

In other news, Patrick Marleau was named the NHL's First Star of the Week for last week alongside clinical nurse educator generalist Jane Vergara of San Jose. It was also announced today that the NHL has reached a seven-year multimedia deal with Turner Sports beginning for the 2021-22 season, who will be the NHL's second national broadcast partner in the US alongside ESPN starting next season.

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 47 Recap: Wild 6, Sharks 3 (4/24/21)

 The Sharks lose their eighth in a row as they go down to the Wild 6-3 and conclude their season series with Minnesota with a 3-5-0 record. On the other hand, with their win Saturday night, the Wild become the third team to clinch a playoff berth this season, joining the Golden Knights and Avalanche, who all happen to be in the West Division. 

The start to this game was disastrous for the Sharks as they gave up three goals in the first period to Ryan Suter, Marcus Foligno, and Jared Spurgeon. Martin Jones was pulled after the first period and was replaced by Josef Korenar to start the middle frame. Kevin Fiala added one more for the Wild in the second to go up 4-0 through two periods. 

The Sharks began to mount a comeback in the third period, starting with Logan Couture's 15th goal of the year to finally put the Sharks on the board. Soon after, Kirill Kaprizov scored to get the Wild back to a four-goal lead. San Jose's comeback efforts continue in the third as they scored the next two from Evander Kane and Joachim Blichfeld to get within two. However, the comeback efforts were officially put to bed after Nick Bonino found the empty net to make it 6-3 in favor of the Wild. 

The Sharks' last goal with about six minutes remaining was the most notable in this one since it was Joachim Blichfeld's first NHL goal. Timo Meier, Rudolfs Balcers, Tomas Hertl, and Nikolai Knyzhov each recorded an assist in the Sharks' loss to the Wild Saturday night. 

Patrick Marleau was honored in his first home game after breaking the all-time games played record with a pregame ceremony and a tribute video led by Patty's longtime teammate Jumbo Joe Thornton. In addition, new logos commemorating the broken record were imprinted onto the ice at both ends, and every Sharks player wore Patty's heritage jerseys during warmups. 

Martin Jones made five saves before being pulled for the eighth time this season, the most for any starting goalie in the NHL. In relief for Martin Jones, Josef Korenar stopped 15 of 17 shots against in the second and third periods. Regardless of his stretch of great performances before the trade deadline, Martin Jones is clearly not a starting-caliber goalie anymore and should not start another game for the Sharks this season, if not ever again. However, for some reason Bob Boughner doesn't see this and continues to override Jones and leave him out to dry during every game, which isn't working anymore. Their goaltending tandem should be Korenar and Melnichuk for the remainder of this season, no exceptions. 

The last notable lineup change in this game from previous games is Greg Pateryn making his debut in Teal.

Despite a solid third period, the Sharks continue to struggle and play poorly time and time again. I don't know how much more I can take of this, but at the very least San Jose has increased its odds of drafting in the top five overall in this year's entry draft. The Sharks can't seem to win with its current roster right now, and if Doug Wilson doesn't make any significant changes to it this offseason, the team will get worse next season and he will lose his job as Sharks GM.

Anyway, the Sharks' next miniseries is Monday and Wednesday against the Coyotes, with both games starting at 7:30 pm PT. Monday's game will also be the first game at SAP Center in over a year that will be open to the general public, so hopefully this can motivate the Sharks to get out of their slump and perform better than they have been lately. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 46 Recap: Golden Knights 5, Sharks 2 (4/21/21)

 The Sharks extend their losing streak to seven as they go down to the Golden Knights for the seventh time this season 5-2. This is also the Golden Knights' eighth-straight win, and Vegas becomes the first team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot this season. 

Despite the continuing freefall for San Jose, the Sharks scored the first goal of the game from Timo Meier, who deflected a wrap-around pass from Joel Kellman for his ninth goal of the year. The Knights tie it up shortly after on Jonathan Marchessault's first goal of the game. Towards the 11-minute mark in the second period, the Sharks went back ahead on a blast from Tomas Hertl to make it a 2-1 game. Patrick Marleau, playing in his 900th consecutive game, got the primary assist on the Hertl's 14th of the season, while Erik Karlsson got the secondary assist. 

It all unfolded afterwards when the Golden Knights scored four straight to close out this game. Two of them came in the middle frame from from Mark Stone and Alex Tuch, while the last two came in the final frame from Jonathan Marchessault and Matias Janmark. 

Like in previous games this season, the Sharks' power play was awful and uncoordinated against Vegas. However, Josef Korenar got his second NHL start last night and made some important saves to keep the Sharks in this one, stopping 35 of 39 shots against. There was some scrappiness in the first period, most of it between Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty. 

When it's all said and done, the Sharks don't and can't seem to match up well with the Vegas Golden Knights at all this season. As for their season finale, it has now been moved from Monday, May 10 to Wednesday, May 12. The last game between these two teams could be very meaningful or have little meaning; we'll have to find out once we get to that point in the season. In the meantime, the Sharks' next game is Saturday versus the Wild. This will be the first game in over a year that the Sharks will be playing in front of a live audience at SAP Center. Maybe playing in front of fans at home will help spark a fire inside the Sharks that this team desperately needs to get back into the win column.

Sources: Sharks Audio Network, NHL App

Sharks Game 45 Recap: Golden Knights 3, Sharks 2 (SO) (4/19/21)

 The Sharks fought hard on Patrick Marleau's historic night, but fell short as the Golden Knights took this one in the shootout 3-2 for their seventh straight win. 

The biggest moment in this game by far is Patrick Marleau officially breaking Gordie Howe's all-time games played record. This is a truly special and unforgettable moment for Patty and NHL history. After he took his first shift, the Golden Knights set their rivalry aside and honored Patrick Marleau, getting applause and a standing ovation from everyone in attendance, including Golden Knights fans. In addition, a message from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman played on the jumbotron during the ceremony, and Patty's wife, children, and other family members were in attendance to witness this. Marleau isn't known to show much emotion on and off the ice, but he did get emotional right as he was being recognized for his incredible achievement. 

The other ways Patrick Marleau was honored in his 1,768th career game included being in the starting lineup with Tomas Hertl and Rudolfs Balcers as linemates. Marleau had a few great chances to score in this historic game but wasn't able to get them past Robin Lehner. When the Sharks reached the shootout, Bob Boughner decided to have Patty go first because why not, but his shootout attempt was unsuccessful. 

Besides that, Nikolai Knyzhov scores the first goal of the game in the middle of the first period. The Sharks added another one 29 seconds into the second period from Noah Gregor to jump to a 2-0 lead to start the middle frame. Tomas Hertl left the game in the second period with an apparent injury but returned later that period. The Golden Knights answer back with two goals form Mark Stone on the power play. The first one came shortly after the one from Noah Gregor, and the second one came early in the third. 

With about 14 seconds remaining in regulation, Mario Ferraro made a game-saving play after the puck got behind Martin Jones by clearing it out right as it was about to go into the net. The Sharks had some great chances in overtime but couldn't get it done. In addition, Martin Jones made some amazing saves to keep the game going. All the Golden Knights needed in the shootout was a successful attempt from Alex Tuch to extend their win streak to seven games. The Sharks still have yet to win against the Golden Knights this season. 

Right as the game was completed, Patrick Marleau got another standing ovation from the crowd at T-Mobile Arena, and Golden Knights players went over to Patty to congratulate him on breaking an all-time record that may never be broken by another player in the NHL again. One of the biggest reasons why Patty was able to break the all-time games played record is that he hasn't missed a game since the 2009 season, which is nothing short of phenomenal. 

As for Martin Jones, he performed well in Patty's 1,768th game, making 38 saves on 40 shots against. 

It would've been better if the Sharks had won last night considering the huge historical achievement involved, but the Sharks did put up more of a fight in this one and guaranteed at least one point in the standings. When it's all said and done, Patty will go down as one of the greatest to every play the game and should be a shoe-in for the Hockey Hall of Fame. San Jose will wrap up its current road trip Wednesday in Vegas at 6:30 pm PT, still looking for its first win against the Golden Knights all season. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 44 Recap: Wild 5, Sharks 2 (4/17/21)

 The Wild spoiled Patrick Marleau's historic night as they defeat the Sharks 5-2 and sweep the back-to-back set. San Jose's skid has been extended to a season-long five games. 

Most importantly, Patrick Marleau has officially tied Gordie Howe for first on the NHL's all-time games played list with 1,767. After Patty took his first shift in the first period, the Wild recognized this record and made an announcement to everyone in attendance. The crowd in Minnesota gave Marleau a round of applause and a standing ovation, which was very classy of them to do. In addition, players on the Wild went over to Patty to congratulate him on such a huge achievement after the game was finished. I have nothing but respect for opposing players who express their gratitude towards Patrick Marleau on his quest to break the all-time games played record. 

In the second half of the first period, Brent Burns scored the first goal of the game all the way from the blue line. This was also Burnzie's first goal in 23 games. Assisting on the first goal were Rudolfs Balcers and Tomas Hertl. Minnesota then went on to score five straight, which spanned until the end of the second period. The five Wild goals were scored by Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek, Zach Parise, Kirill Kaprizov, and Nico Sturm. The last Wild goal by Nico Sturm was challenged by Bob Boughner for goaltender interference, but the challenge was unsuccessful, resulting in a delay-of-game minor against the Sharks that carried into the third period. 

Martin Jones was less than stellar in his second consecutive start in a back-to-back set, making 19 saves and giving up five goals before getting pulled after two periods in favor of Josef Korenar. Korenar replaced Jones to start the third period and stopped all four shots he faced. Despite his hot streak right before the trade deadline, I'm pretty convinced that Martin Jones is no longer a starting-caliber goalie. His contract should be one of the first that the Sharks should consider buying out this offseason. 

The Sharks salvaged one more late in the third on Joel Kellman's first of the season, but it was too little too late. In addition, Kevin Labanc and Ryan Donato each recorded an assist on the Kellman goal late in the third. 

Inconsistency has been the theme for the Sharks for much of this season. Not much seems to be going right for them at this time. It has gotten bad enough that Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier were demoted to the fourth line last night, which should serve as a wake-up call for them. As the season progresses, it's looking more and more like a two-team race between the Coyotes and Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. San Jose's next miniseries is Monday and Wednesday in Vegas against the Golden Knights, with puck drop for each game at 7 pm PT. The Sharks' next game on Monday is when Patrick Marleau is set to break the all-time games played record, and Patty's family will be in attendance at Monday's game to witness this historical moment. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 43 Recap: Wild 3, Sharks 2 (4/16/21)

 The Sharks fell short against the Wild 3-2 in the first game of their current four-game road trip Friday night. 

This game seemed to start off well for the Sharks, as they scored the first goal of the game via Tomas Hertl. Assisting on the first goal were Radim Simek and Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. Nick Bonino ties the game for the Wild towards the middle of the first. 

The second period got away from Sharks as the Wild added two more goals from Mats Zuccarello and Zach Parise early in the period. However, the Sharks got within one on a shorthanded breakaway attempt by Evander Kane, but the Sharks weren't able to complete their comeback efforts in the third. 

In addition, Tomas Hertl was almost called for a double minor for high-sticking in the third against Zach Parise, but thankfully it was rescinded after it was determined that Nico Sturm accidentally high-sticked his own teammate. 

Martin Jones was mediocre in this one, stopping 15 of 18 shots against. One milestone worth mentioning from this game is that Dylan Gambrell skated in his 100th NHL game Friday night. 

In all, every area of the Sharks has been inconsistent lately. Hopefully they can salvage one game in this back-to-back set against the Wild tonight at 5 pm PT, in which Patrick Marleau is set to tie Gordie Howe for the all-time games played record in NHL history.

In other news, the Sharks announced that they will allow a limited number of fans at SAP Center starting April 26 versus the Coyotes with restrictions in place. It will be the first event at SAP Center that will be open to the general public since March 8, 2020. As for the April 24 game against the Wild, that game will be limited to family and friends of Sharks players, coaches, and other team personnel. Beginning April 26, fans who attend the remaining seven home games of the 2021 season will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or full vaccination before entering the arena. Face masks will be required to be worn at all times except for in the designated food and drink areas, and no bags will be allowed in the arena. Tickets will only be sold digitally and in advance, with priority going to Sharks365 members, suiteholders, and corporate partners. All transactions will be cashless via major credit and debit cards and mobile payments. Despite all these restrictions, it's always great to have fans back in attendance at the Shark Tank this season.

Sources: sjsharks.com, NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 42 Recap: Ducks 4, Sharks 1 (4/14/21)

 The Sharks continue to struggle as they lose to the Ducks 4-1 and get swept in this two-game set to close out their current homestand and their season series against Anaheim. 

Most of this game had flashes of Monday night's contest. Ryan Getzlaf returned to the Ducks lineup Wednesday night and scored early in the first period to give the Ducks an early 1-0 lead. Evander Kane appeared to be limping and in a lot of pain before the end of the first period, but luckily he was able to return in the second. Anaheim added two more goals in the third from Derek Grant and Alex Volkov. 

Towards the beginning of the third, the Ducks appeared to have scored when a large scrum broke out between the Sharks and Ducks. The end of the scrum saw Dylan Gambrell and Josh Manson drop the gloves in the first tilt of the game. In addition, the Sharks challenged this goal for goaltender interference and were successful, keeping the Ducks three-goal advantage intact. The second fight went down roughly five minutes later involving Radim Simek and Troy Terry. The last fight of the game occurred with about six minutes remaining, between Simek and Max Comtois. 

Logan Couture had to have his hand examined with roughly three and a half minutes remaining after getting hit into the boards by Sam Steel, which clipped Couture's hand in the process. It wasn't until the 17:44 mark in the final frame that Erik Karlsson went five-hole from near the blue line to finally put the Sharks on the scoreboard. Timo Meier and Brent Burns got the assists on the Sharks' lone goal of the game. The Ducks answered back on the power play with 30 seconds left in regulation on a goal by Jakob Silfverberg to put this game away for good. 

Josef Korenar made his first NHL start in net Wednesday night, making 23 saves. Although Korenar made some great stops, the Sharks' lackluster defense didn't give him much support in his first big-league start. Some of the forward lines were shifted around before the start of this game, but that didn't seem to improve the Sharks' performance from Monday night. 

Overall, the Sharks' last miniseries with the Ducks this season was deflating. Their past seven games with their So Cal rivals was the Sharks' chance to put themselves away from the Blues and Coyotes for the fourth playoff spot in the West Division, but they failed to do so. On the bright side, the Sharks avoided a shutout in the second game of this miniseries and won the season series with their Orange County rivals 4-3-1. San Jose departs on a four-game road trip starting Friday, in which they will face the Wild in Minnesota for a two-game set through Saturday. Puck drop for both Friday's and Saturday's games are at 5 pm PT. Following the weekend miniseries in Minnesota, the Sharks will face the Golden Knights in Vegas for a two-game set on Monday and Wednesday. Things aren't going to get any easier for Team Teal after getting swept at home by the Ducks, but they need to get it together soon if they want to save their season. 

In other news, the Sharks-Golden Knights game originally scheduled for Friday, April 23 at SAP Center will now be the Sharks' 2021 season finale. It has been rescheduled to Monday, May 10 at 6 pm PT in San Jose, which is completely fine with me. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 41 Recap: Ducks 4, Sharks 0 (4/12/21)

 The Sharks had one of their worst performances of the year as they were shut out by the last-place Ducks 4-0. 

The Ducks scored three times in the first period, one from Max Comtois and two from Alex Volkov. Anaheim also added one more from Rickard Rakell in the third. On top of that, Anthony Stolarz was a brick wall that the Sharks couldn't break. 

Overall, the entire Sharks team had an embarrassing outing against the Ducks. It was like they weren't even trying in this one. As for Martin Jones, he was reportedly injured during warmups, but Bob Boughner still decided to start him anyway and leave him out to dry. I swear the Sharks are going to continue to play Martin Jones until his legs and arms fall off. This approach is not only detrimental to Jones, but to the entire Sharks team. In addition, the Sharks tallied 46 shots on net in this game and not one found the back of the net, which is absolutely unacceptable. Not to mention that the Ducks were coming off of a back-to-back and were without their captain in Ryan Getzlaf, making matters worse for San Jose. 

Another thing worth mentioning from this game is that Tomas Hertl had to exit early after an apparent collision with teammate Nikolai Knyzhov at center ice late in this one, only adding on to the Sharks' woes Monday night. 

I have no other words on this game, except that the Sharks are better than this. They will try to bounce back in their next game Wednesday against the Ducks at 7:30 pm PT. This will also be the Sharks last match-up against the Ducks this season. Hopefully Martin Jones gets a much-needed rest and Josef Korenar gets the start in net. If San Jose loses again to Anaheim on Wednesday, which I don't want to happen, they may as well throw in the towel on the 2021 season and kiss any playoff hopes goodbye. The Sharks are back in a slump once again, and I desperately want things in San Jose to improve. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, San Jose Hockey Now, Bay Area News Group

Sharks 2021 Deadline Day Deals

 The NHL Trade Deadline has officially come and gone, and the Sharks made a few more trades before today's 12 pm deadline. The trades made today by GM Doug Wilson are minor in comparison to the ones that occurred in the past few days but are solid and still worth mentioning. Let's dive into them: 

• The first trade involving the Sharks that occurred this morning was defenseman Frederik Claesson to the Lightning for goaltending prospect Magnus Chrona. Claesson has zero points in four games for the Sharks this season after they claimed him off waivers from the Senators before the start of the season. Chrona was a 5th-round selection by the Lightning in 2018 out of the University of Denver and has yet to play in the NHL.
  

•  Next, a three-team deal took place between the Blackhawks, Golden Knights, and Sharks that sent Matias Janmark from the Blackhawks to the Golden Knights. The Sharks will retain 25 percent of Janmark's $2.25 million cap hit, receive a 2022 5th-round pick from the Golden Knights (which originally belonged to the Sabres), and send prospect defenseman Nick DeSimone to the Knights. In addition, the Blackhawks get a 2021 2nd-round pick and a 2022 3rd-round pick in this deal. DeSimone still remains with the Barracuda in the AHL, but his contract now belong to Vegas.
  

• The last deal before the deadline involving San Jose saw forward Antti Suomela dealt to the Maple Leafs for forward Alexander Barabanov. Barabanov is one year younger than Suomela and made his NHL debut with the Leafs this season, recording one assist in 13 games. On the other hand, Suomela has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 51 games over the course of three seasons with the Sharks. 
  

•  Most notably, bigger names on the Sharks roster than the ones dealt today weren't moved before the deadline despite trade rumors attached to them heading up to today's deadline, such as Marcus Sorensen and Patrick Marleau. This all but guarantees that Patrick Marleau will break Gordie Howe's all-time games played record in teal, which would be the ideal scenario for Patty and the rest of Sharks territory. 

• This isn't a trade deadline transaction, but San Jose signed prospect goalie Zach Sawchenko to a two-year, entry-level deal. His contract begins this season and goes through next season. Sawchenko has split time between the Barracuda in the AHL and the Allen Americans in the ECHL this season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and a .917 SV% with the Barracuda, and 5-2-0 with a 2.55 GAA and a .926 SV% with Allen. 

Follow CPF Hockey for more Sharks news and updates heading into the remainder of the 2021 season. 

Sources: The Athletic, San Jose Hockey Now, NBC Sports Bay Area/California 

Sharks Trade Stefan Noesen in Three-Way Deal with Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets

 The NHL Trade Deadline is less than 24 hours away, and we have another trade involving the Sharks. 

The Sharks were the third party involved in a three-way deal between them, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Toronto Maple Leafs today. This trade sent forward Nick Foligno from the Blue Jackets to the Maple Leafs and forward Stefan Noesen from the Sharks to the Maple Leafs. In addition, the Blue Jackets receive the Maple Leafs' 2021 first-round pick and 2022 fourth-round pick, while the Sharks receive the Maple Leafs' 2021 fourth-round pick. Columbus will retain 50 percent of Foligno's contract, while San Jose will retain 25 percent of Foligno's contract. 

Team Teal had about $10.2 million in cap space heading into the trade deadline and will use $1.375 million of it on Nick Foligno's cap hit. With the addition of Toronto's 2021 fourth-rounder, the Sharks now have eight picks in this year's draft. 

San Jose had re-signed Stefan Noesen to a one-year deal before the start of this season before putting him on waivers in February. Noesen recorded no points in five games with the Sharks and six points (two goals, four assists) in the AHL with the Barracuda this season. 

From the Sharks perspective, this is a good deal for them as they received a mid-level draft pick for a little-used forward this season. However, Stefan Noesen's positive and lighthearted presence in the locker room and on the ice will be missed. 

Let's see what else the Shark's have up their sleeve before tomorrow's trade deadline. Follow CPF Hockey for more Sharks trade deadline coverage. 

Source: NBC Sports Bay Area/California

Sharks Game 40 Recap: Kings 4, Sharks 2 (4/10/21)

 The Sharks simply ran out of gas as they lose their season series finale with the Kings 4-2 Saturday night. 

Like the first game in this back-to-back set, the Sharks gave up the first goal in the first period, this time to Jeff Carter. Later in the first, Dylan Gambrell scored Jonathan Quick forgot where the puck was after he thought he made a save. The puck was right beside Quick all alone when Gamby finds it and puts it in to tie the game. John Leonard got the primary assist, while Christian Jaros got his first point with the Sharks with the secondary assist. 

The second period was the difference-maker in this game, as the Kings scored three unanswered from Andreas Athanasiou, Alex Iafallo, and Dustin Brown. In addition, the Sharks' power play was horrendous and couldn't convert on any of their chances in the middle frame. 

Martin Jones made 15 saves on 19 shots against before he was finished at the end of the second period. Josef Korenar made his NHL debut in net starting in the third period and stopped all seven shots he faced. 

The Sharks got one back in the third from Timo Meier on the power play, with Tomas Hertl and Ryan Donato assisting on the play. Other than that, several penalties were called against the Sharks in this game, which proved costly. 

In this game, another milestone was reached, as Brent Burns skated in his 700th game as a Shark. 

Despite the loss, the Sharks already won the season series against the Kings, finishing with a record of 6-2-0 versus their rivals in LA. However, with 16 games remaining in the 2021 season, my confidence in the Sharks making the playoffs this season has dipped once again, but their season is not over yet. Their next two-game set is on Monday and Wednesday against the Ducks, with puck drop for both games at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Trade Devan Dubnyk to the Avalanche

 The NHL Trade Deadline is only a few days away, and the Sharks have began wheeling and dealing before tonight's season series finale against the Kings. 

San Jose has traded goalie Devan Dubnyk to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a 2021 fifth-round pick. The Sharks won't be retaining any of Dubnyk's salary and has cleared some cap space to potentially take on some bad contracts from other teams heading into next season. 

The Avalanche receive a solidified backup goaltender in Devan Dubnyk, who will give them additional insurance in net and relieve some pressure off of Phillip Grubbauer heading into the playoffs. The Avalanche have a stacked and loaded roster, but their biggest hole heading into the trade deadline was goaltending behind Grubbauer, since Pavel Francouz has been out long term with an injury. 

Devan Dubnyk hasn't had much playing time with the Sharks recently as Martin Jones has been performing much better compared to the beginning of this season. The Sharks had acquired Dubnyk this past offseason in a trade with the Minnesota Wild and has a .898 save percentage and one shutout in 17 games this season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season and previously indicated he would waive his no-movement clause to join a contender. 

As for the Sharks' return, Team Teal adds more defensive depth in Greg Pateryn, who has two points in 11 games with the Avalanche this season and has spent some time with the Avalanche's AHL affiliate in the Colorado Eagles. In addition, Pateryn has three goals in ten AHL games with the Eagles this season. With the fifth-round selection received in this deal, it's great for the Sharks to stock up on draft picks considering the current state of the team. 

Now that Dubnyk is no longer with the Sharks, Josef Korenar and Alexei Melnichuk will be given opportunities in net over the remaining stretch of the regular season behind Martin Jones. 

Overall, I am okay with this trade. Devan Dubnyk has been solid for the Sharks at times this season, but he hasn't made enough of an impact on the Sharks to where I would miss him greatly. However, Dubnyk helped Jones improve his game and stood up to Jordan Binnington during that one game against the Blues, so I gotta give him credit where credit is due. 

I don't expect the Sharks to be done making trades before Monday's trade deadline. Stay tuned to CPF Hockey for more Sharks trade deadline coverage. 

Source: NBC Sports Bay Area/California

Sharks Game 39 Recap: Sharks 5, Kings 2 (4/9/21)

 The Sharks get back in the win column as they defeat the Kings 5-2 Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back set. This is the Sharks' fifth win in their last six games. 

San Jose didn't necessarily get the start it wanted, as they gave up the first goal of the game to Alex Iafallo and the Kings. However, the Sharks answered back with three consecutive goals in the third from Kevin Labanc, Patrick Marleau, and Rudolfs Balcers. Here's how each first period goal turned out: Kevin Labanc went top shelf for his tenth of the season. Brent Burns shot the puck at the net and it deflected off Patrick Marleau's skate for Patty's second consecutive game with a goal. Rudolfs Balcers grabs the rebound off of Timo Meier's initial shot and goes with the backhand to put the Sharks up 3-1. 

The second period was scoreless, but near the midway point of the period, Jeff Viel and Kurtis MacDermid dropped the gloves and went at it. Towards the end of the second frame, Marcus Sorensen and Andreas Athanasiou would get in a confrontation and hug it out, in which both were called for five minutes each for "fighting." Both Sorensen and Athanasiou would end up actually fighting at the conclusion of this game. 

Early in the third, Jaret Anderson-Dolan scores to put the Kings within one. Late in the final frame, Dylan Gambrell scores on a 2-on-0 shorthanded chance with Evander Kane to get the Sharks two-goal lead back. With about a minute remaining in this game, Tomas Hertl finds the empty net to put this one away for good. 

Brent Burns recorded three assists in Friday night's contest, although he should've maybe gotten a fourth assist on the Hertl empty-netter. Evander Kane tallied two assists, while Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, Mario Ferraro, Marcus Sorensen, and Logan Couture each recorded one assist. 

Martin Jones continues to play outstanding against the Kings, saving 32 of 34 shots against. A few milestones were reached Friday night, as Timo Meier played in his 300th NHL game and Mario Ferraro played in his 100th NHL game. 

The Sharks already have the Kings' number this season, and they conclude their season series tonight at 7:30 pm PT. Martin Jones will get the start in net once more, since he tends to play his best hockey against his former team. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 38 Recap: Ducks 5, Sharks 1 (4/6/21)

 The Sharks played down to their competition for much of this game as they lose to the Ducks 5-1, snapping their four-game win streak. 

For the most part, the Sharks were awful in this game. The Ducks jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first on a goal by Adam Henrique. Later in the first period, after an initial scrum between the Sharks and Ducks, Jeff Viel and Sam Carrick dropped the gloves and went at it, which ultimately left Carrick with a huge cut on his nose from his visor. 

Early in the second period, Max Comtois scores to extend the Ducks' lead to two on the power play. Roughly a minute later, Erik Karlsson fakes a slapshot and makes a great pass to Kevin Labanc, who finds Patrick Marleau to get one back for the Sharks on their power play chance. This was certainly the bright spot for the Sharks last night as Patty scored his third goal of the season and moved into 23rd on the all-time goals list with his 565th career goal. 

From then on, the rest of the game got further and further away from the Sharks as the Ducks added two more goals in the second period from Isac Lundestrom and Nicolas Deslauriers. Anaheim also buried the empty net in the third with less than eight minutes remaining to place the exclamation point on this game, which was scored by David Backes. 

Martin Jones had a drop-off in his performance last night compared to his last four starts, making 29 saves on 33 shots against. John Gibson bailed the Ducks out of this one, recording 34 saves. 

As for the rest of the Sharks' lineup, Marcus Sorensen was a late scratch due to injury, so Noah Gregor replaced him on the fourth line. Sorensen has also been subject to trade rumors as of late, so it's possible he could get dealt soon for all we know. In addition, Christian Jaros made his Sharks debut against the Ducks last night. 

Luckily this was only the Sharks' second loss to the Ducks this season and the only one to occur in regulation thus far. Hopefully this game is an anomaly for the Sharks and they pick back up on their hot streak and winning ways as they continue to chase a playoff spot in the West Division. Their next two-game set isn't until Friday and Saturday versus the Kings, with puck drop for both games at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks News & Notes (4/6/21)

 Other than their current four-game win streak, there have been a few other notable headlines surrounding the Sharks that have surfaced recently. Let's get into them: 

• The Sharks signed prospect center Scott Reedy to a two-year, entry-level contract, which starts for the 2021-22 season. Reedy had just completed his senior season at the University of Minnesota this year and was one of the top performing players for Minnesota this past season. 
  

• Martin Jones was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week for this past week, with the first star being Mat Barzal of the Islanders and the third star being Brad Marchand of the Bruins. Jones has been amazing in his last four starts, going 4-0-0 with a 1.71 GAA, a .942 save percentage, and a shutout against the Kings on Friday. He is one of the main reasons why the Sharks have been on fire lately and are so close to a playoff spot in the West Division. 
  

• The state of California recently announced that indoor concerts, performances, sports, and other events are allowed to return starting April 15 with modifications. This directly affects the Sharks as they would be able to bring fans back to SAP Center before the end of the season pending the approval of Santa Clara County health officials. The additional good news in this is that Santa Clara County health officials stated that they will be following the state's guidelines instead of taking matters into their own hands like they did at the height of the pandemic around the winter holidays. This also clears a big hurdle in allowing fans to return to SAP Center, but it's not yet official. I plan to write a separate post about this matter once it becomes official. The soonest the Sharks would be able to bring back fans in limited capacity to SAP Center is April 23 vs. the Golden Knights since they will be on their last significant road trip of the season the week prior to April 23. Fans who attend Sharks games this season once they're able to will need to show proof of a negative COVID test or that they're fully vaccinated in order to get in. Lastly, I want to say that it's about damn time that fans are brought back to indoor sporting events in California since the MLB was permitted to allow fans at its five teams' games in California starting on opening day and other NHL teams have been able to safely bring fans back to their games. 
  

• Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be out for about a week due to an upper-body injury. Christian Jaros is expected to take Vlasic's place in the lineup for the Sharks' next few games.
  

Stay tuned to CPF Hockey for all your Sharks news and updates. 

Sources: sjsharks.com, NHL via Instagram, San Jose Hockey Now

Sharks Game 37 Recap: Sharks 3, Kings 2 (4/3/21)

 The Sharks string together their first four-game win streak all season by defeating the Kings 3-2, earning their second consecutive miniseries sweep. 

It didn't take long for the Sharks to get the first goal of the game. It was first credited to Evander Kane, but they made the right decision to change it to Kevin Labanc after there was initial uncertainty on who scored the goal. The scorekeepers made the right decision because I believe Labanc was the one who scored the first goal all along. Nikolai Knyzhov shot the puck first and Labanc put it in on the rebound. A few minutes later, Dustin Brown ties it for the Kings at one a piece. There has been more push-back from the Kings in the second game of this back-to-back than in the first one. 

In the second period, Jeff Viel almost cashed in on a diving shot attempt, but couldn't get it past Jonathan Quick. Around the 15-minute mark, Evander Kane out-waits Quick and scores to retake the lead for the Sharks 2-1, with Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc getting the assists. Towards the end of the second, Trevor Moore ties the game again for the Kings while shorthanded due to Brent Burns, Martin Jones, and the rest of the Sharks' defense being thrown off guard on the Kings' shorthanded opportunity. 

Marc-Eduoard Vlasic skated in one shift in the first, while he didn't skate at all in the second or third. No one really knew what exactly happened to him, but after the game was completed, it was confirmed that Vlasic left with an apparent upper-body injury. He plans to be re-evaluated soon. 

Dylan Gambrell scores the game-winner for the Sharks in the third period after John Leonard steals the puck from Jonathan Quick behind the Kings' net and makes a great pass to Gambrell with an empty net in front of him. 

Martin Jones had another stellar performance, stopping 35 of 37 shots against and improving his save percentage to .905.

The Sharks are above a .500 win percentage for the first time since the start of this season, and now find themselves one point out of a playoff spot, which most of us would not have anticipated a month ago. Things have become more interesting in the West Division, and I am pumped about it. 

I'm pretty confident the Sharks can maintain their hot streak as they return home for their next game on Tuesday against the in-state rival Ducks at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

My Hockey Bucket List

 I was initially inspired to make this post from a YouTube video I saw back in December, where the guy listed and explained his hockey bucket list in the video. 

In this post, I will list some things I want to experience and see happen as a hockey fan over the course of my life. These will be listed in no particular order; most of these are just as important as the others in how much I want to achieve these things. Without further ado, let's get started:

Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto 

 The Hockey Hall of Fame is one of the biggest reasons why Toronto is one of the top places I want to travel to the most. I've heard so many great things about the place, and from my knowledge it is a mecca of everything relating to hockey history. In addition, players and executives get their names enshrined there every year, and those individuals aren't just limited to the NHL. It is a must-see place for every hockey fan, and I can't wait to be able to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. I know for sure that I will be like a kid in a candy shop once I step foot in there for the first time.

Witness the Sharks Win a Stanley Cup 

 One spectacle in sports that I want to see happen in my lifetime more than anything else is the Sharks winning their first Stanley Cup, whether it be on TV or in an arena at the Cup-clinching game. When this finally happens, I will feel like the happiest man on Earth, and I know it will absolutely be worth the wait. I have dreamed about this happening before, and I have pictured myself getting emotional at the thought of the Sharks as Stanley Cup Champions. In addition, if and when the Sharks win their first Stanley Cup, I really hope I can attend their Stanley Cup parade and public celebration in San Jose the day that these take place. 

The closest the Sharks have come to winning the Stanley Cup in their franchise history was in 2016 when they made the Cup Final for the first time ever. Unfortunately, San Jose was two wins away from the Cup before they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games that year. A handful of players from that team still remain with the Sharks, and it's very possible that the Sharks' Stanley Cup window may have already closed. This is due to the fact that they under-performed last season and are on track to miss the playoffs again this season. In addition, the Sharks have some veteran players on bad contracts and on the decline that may be very difficult or almost impossible to move. There have also been talks of a potential rebuild on the horizon for Team Teal, so it may be a while longer before they have another chance at competing for a Stanley Cup. As much as it pains me to say it, this is just the reality of the current state of the Sharks, which is in a transition phase at the moment. 

However, at the time this post is being published, the Sharks are on a tear and stand a few points out of a playoff spot in the West Division. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are becoming a real possibility for the Sharks this season, and I can't wait for what's in store over the next month.

With that being said, I have no idea what the Sharks will look like if and when they win Lord Stanley for the first time, but as long as it happens while I am alive, this item will be crossed off my hockey bucket list. Not only will I be overjoyed and emotional if and when the Sharks win the Stanley Cup, but they will gain a lot of new fans outside of Silicon Valley, and the rest of the hockey world will take them more seriously once a Stanley Cup is added to the Sharks' portfolio. 

Visit and Attend Games at Every NHL Arena 

 Another goal of mine as a hockey fan is to attend at least one game at every NHL arena. This does not have to occur all in one season or a few seasons; I want this to happen over the course of my life. 

What about taking tours of NHL arenas or seeing them up close? These are also worth accomplishing, but are only part of the equation. The other thing is that not all NHL arenas offer tours to the public. The best way to truly experience an NHL arena is to attend an NHL game there. 

So far, I have been to two NHL games: one at SAP Center in San Jose and the other at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The only other NHL arena I have seen in person is the Honda Center in Anaheim. I remember seeing the Honda Center from a distance once before, but I have never been inside that arena.

I understand that this is a daunting and expensive mission, but I believe it can be accomplished and I will do my best to make sure I can attend at least one game in as many NHL arenas as I possibly can. 

See Every NHL Team Play in Person 

 This one almost goes hand-in-hand with the previous goal. The main difference is that seeing every NHL team play in person accounts for visiting teams as well. For example, this goal can be accomplished if I only attended Sharks games at SAP Center or attended only the home games of the California-based teams. This certainly sounds easier to accomplish than attending a game at every NHL arena, but it still won't necessarily be easy. However, this mission is very possible to accomplish; the key is to not set too short of a time frame to accomplish it in. 

As of now, I have only seen the Sharks, Blackhawks, Kings, and Stars play in person in the two NHL games I have attended thus far. I am aiming to attend another NHL game as soon as next season when every team will hopefully allow fans to attend their games again without any COVID restrictions in place. Hopefully I can add at least one more team to my list of teams I've seen play in person. 

Visit the NHL Flagship Store in New York 

 The moment I first knew of the NHL Flagship Store, I instantly wanted to visit that store. I have been to New York before, but this was before I ever knew of the NHL Flagship Store. During my first and only visit to New York, I also wasn't able to fit seeing Madison Square Garden up close in the plans either. Anyway, from the pictures I've seen of the the NHL Flagship Store, it looks absolutely incredible. I could probably spend an entire day at that store, and I don't think I could leave without buying something from there.

Attend at Least One Stanley Cup Playoff Game 

 Like I've mentioned previously, I've been to two regular season NHL games. However, playoff games are on a completely different level with their atmosphere and what's at stake for both teams involved. A playoff game is absolutely worth attending in the future because of their intensity and greater importance than regular season games. The main obstacles in the way of this happening for me are that playoff tickets are quite expensive and scarce. In addition, playoff tickets usually almost always sell out pretty quickly. I find that it would be too difficult to set a specific time limit on attending a playoff game, but I want to make it happen at least once in my life. I am determined to make a rare opportunity like this happen for me in some way, shape, or form.

Become a Sharks Season Ticket Holder  

 Becoming a season ticket holder for the Sharks would be an absolute dream come true. Not only would I be able to attend as many Sharks games as possible, I would also receive plenty of other perks that the average fan is less likely to gain access to, such as meeting the players and coaching staff, exclusive team events, improved seating and viewing experiences, and other benefits and rewards. There may even be greater opportunities to travel to Sharks road games. Another benefit as a season ticket holder is that I would be able to provide other people such as my family and friends with tickets more easily than if I wasn't a season ticket holder. In other words, so many doors are opened to those who have the privilege of being a season ticket holder. 

Honorable Mentions 

•  I would like to expand my hockey merchandise and memorabilia collection. For example, I have a few Sharks jerseys in my jersey collection, but the ones I want to add the most are the Sharks Heritage jersey from this year and the Sharks Stadium Series jersey from 2015. I also have a few pucks and autographed hockey memorabilia, and I would like to expand those collections as well, including game-used items. More hockey items in my collection would be great, but collecting more memorabilia has been placed under honorable mentions because experiences at games and when traveling are more fulfilling to me than materialistic things alone. 
  

• This isn't a requirement, but it would be great if I could meet a current or former NHL player or coach at any point in my life. I understand that the likelihood of this happening is pretty small, but I would feel very lucky to have the chance to meet a current or former NHL player or coach if it was presented to me. I prefer that those players or coaches that I want to meet be current or former Sharks, but they don't have to be; I'd still be lucky regardless. The scenario of meeting them doesn't have to be specific; it can be at a meet-and-greet event or totally random and unexpected. 

•  These go hand-in-hand, but it would be amazing to attend at least one NHL All-Star Game and its festivities and at least one NHL outdoor game, such as the Winter Classic or a Stadium Series game. The fan experience at these annual or bi-annual games are unlike anything else in the NHL. There is also a lot of hype surrounding these games as they get special TV coverage and unique jerseys that are usually only worn for those games. In addition, the special jerseys worn specifically for all-star and outdoor games tend to become collector's items and appreciate over time. Lastly, all-star and outdoor games are great opportunities to witness a significant event in NHL history take place, at it will be absolutely worth it.
  

This post basically sums up the goals and aspirations I want to achieve as a hockey fan. I understand that time is on my side (for the most part) when it comes to achieving the items listed on my hockey bucket list, but the sooner these things can be accomplished, the better. I plan to update this once items can be crossed off, so be sure to stick around for the journey. It will be a fun one for sure!

Sharks Game 36 Recap: Sharks 3, Kings 0 (4/2/21)

 The Sharks extend their win streak to three as they shut out the Kings 3-0 Friday night. 

San Jose continues to click and remain hot coming off a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Wild. The Sharks jumped out to an early lead in the first on a shot from Nikolai Knyzhov tipped in by Tomas Hertl. Also involved on that play is Rudolfs Balcers getting the secondary assist. Team Teal also had plenty of great chances in front of Cal Petersen. 

The Sharks extended their lead in the second period on a goal by Timo Meier, with assists from Tomas Hertl and Rudolfs Balcers. Kings coach Todd McLellan challenged Timo's goal for goaltender interference, but it was unsuccessful as Cal Petersen was still able to get into position to make a save on that play. 

In the third period, Dylan Gambrell scored to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead. However, Todd McLellan used another coach's challenge, and Gamby's goal was overturned due to the Sharks being offside prior to scoring. Last but not least, Rudolfs Balcers finds the empty net on a great pass from Brent Burns in the final minute of the game to get the Sharks' three-goal lead back. In addition, Brent Burns recorded his 500th career assist on the Balcers empty-netter.

Most importantly, this game wouldn't have gone the way it did if it weren't for Martin Jones, who tallied a 30-save shutout. He also improved his save percentage to .903 and made some clutch stops throughout this game. 

This has only been the second three-game win streak the Sharks have had all season. As for the West Division standings, San Jose now sits three points out of a playoff spot, leapfrogging the Kings and within reach of the Blues and Coyotes. 

The Sharks will try to make it four consecutive wins when they face the Kings again tonight in the second game of this two-game set at 7 pm PT. Their lineup will basically remain the same as it did last night. Martin Jones will get the start in net tonight in LA, who has performed well against the Kings for much of the season. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Sharks Game 35 Recap: Sharks 4, Wild 2 (3/31/21)

 The Sharks are on a roll as they defeat the Wild 4-2 and sweep this two-game set with Minnesota. 

The first period was uneventful as the Sharks kept the Wild at bay and both teams' shot totals were pretty even. Scoring didn't begin until early in the second period when Rudolfs Balcers sniped one off a great pass from Tomas Hertl. Ryan Donato later scored on the power play to put the Sharks up 2-0 in the second by grabbing the rebound off of Brent Burns' shot from the point and stuffing it in on the backhand. Brent Burns recorded assists on both second period goals, good for a two-assist night. 

Towards the middle of the third period, Kirill Kaprizov scores to get the Wild on the board and cut the Sharks' lead in half. The Sharks got their two-goal lead back when Nikolai Knyzhov found a hole on Kaapo Kahkonen for his first goal of the season. Erik Karlsson got the primary assist while Tomas Hertl got his second assist of the game on the Knyzhov goal. Soon after, Kaprizov checked Logan Couture hard near the boards at the blue line, which leads Evander Kane and Ryan Hartman to go after each other and an an entire scrum to ensue. Once the scrum was over, both Kane and Hartman went to the box for two minutes each for roughing. 

In the final minute of the third, the Wild lessen their deficit by one as Mats Zuccarello tips in Kevin Fiala's shot to make it 3-2. Last but not least, as time expired in regulation, Evander Kane finds the empty net to seal the deal for the Sharks, with Logan Couture getting the apple on the empty-netter. 

Martin Jones had another incredible performance last night, making 26 saves on 28 shots against. 

With the miniseries sweep over the Wild, things are looking more promising for the Sharks as they are now four points out of a playoff spot. San Jose's next two games are Friday and Saturday in LA against the Kings, and their next seven are against the Kings and Ducks, two teams that the Sharks have played well against this season. For the Sharks, in addition to the Blues faltering, a run to the playoffs seems like more of a real possibility, and I'm getting excited about it. They are playing like they can compete with anyone right now, but let's keep our fingers crossed that the rest of the season turns in the Sharks' favor. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App