Sharks 2022-23 Game 27 Recap: Senators 5, Sharks 2 (12/3/22)

 The Sharks led through one period, but the defense had yet another meltdown as they fall 5-2 to the Senators in Ottawa. 

It started out well with a great first period from the Sharks. Tomas Hertl scored two goals, with the first one around the seven-and-a-half minute mark on the power play and the second one around the 11-minute mark. Alexander Barabanov and Timo Meier assisted on the first Hertl goal, while Erik Karlsson and Kevin Labanc assisted on the second Hertl goal. The Senators scored their first goal of the game in between the two goals by Tomas Hertl in the first period via Brady Tkacuk on the man advantage. 

The trend of only showing up for one period and not the entire game is all too common with this Sharks team, and this was no different during the second and third periods against the Senators in Ottawa. Jonah Gadjovich and Mark Kastelic dropped the gloves and fought early in the second period as an attempt at redemption form the last time these two teams played each other this season in San Jose. Claude Giroux tied things at two early in the second period, while Tim Stutzle scored the go-ahead goal late in the second on the power play. 

Not only did the Sharks defense fall apart during the second and third periods, this team also took some dumb penalties and had to play catch-up as a result. The Senators added two more goals in the third period via Thomas Chabot early in the period on the man advantage and Claude Giroux's second goal of the game late in the period. 

Kaapo Kahkonen received the start in net against the Senators, making 34 saves while the rest of the Sharks couldn't do much to bail him out. 

Besides the two goals from Tomas Hertl in the first period, this game was awful. I'm getting sick of games like these, but I don't expect anything less from this year's team. My confidence in the 2022-23 Sharks has been shot once more and I've had enough, but I will continue to remain stuck in this toxic relationship because I know things will eventually improve. The Sharks conclude their current road trip in Buffalo against the Sabres on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back set at 4 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, Bay Area News Group 

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