Sharks 2022-23 Game 36 Recap: Canucks 6, Sharks 2 (12/27/22)

 The Sharks drop their first game back from the Christmas break 6-2 to the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver. 

 Vancouver has had the Sharks’ number in recent seasons and especially this season, and this meeting between these two teams was no different. The Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson. Luckily, the Sharks were able to get on the board with less than a minute remaining in the first period on Timo Meier’s 19th goal of the season from Erik Karlsson and Logan Couture on the power play. Timo Meier now has a five-game goal streak, while Erik Karlsson has extended his point streak to ten games, the longest for a Sharks defenseman.

Vancouver added two more goals in the second period via Ilya Mikheyev and Quinn Hughes. Right before the goal by Mikheyev, Matt Benning blocked a shot in the ankle, was in a lot of discomfort, and hasn’t played a shift since. The Canucks’ lead has been extended to three through two periods of play. 

The Canucks continue their trend of two goals per period in the third, starting with Bo Horvat’s second goal of the game. The Sharks answered back soon after via Timo Meier from Erik Karlsson again, lessening their deficit to three. This was Timo’s second goal of the game, 20th goal of the season, and 300th NHL point. Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson were practically the only ones to show up in this game for the Sharks. Vancouver finished this one off via Brock Boeser to regain their four-goal lead and sweep the season series with the Sharks 3-0-0. 

James Reimer recorded 19 saves on 25 shots against in the blowout loss. 

Besides individual efforts from Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson, the rest of the Sharks were lifeless and put in lackluster effort, leading to them getting blown out in their return from the Christmas break. This flat out stinks and needs to change. The Sharks return home for their next game on Thursday, hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 pm PT. 

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

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store