Sharks 2022-23 Game 61 Recap: Canadiens 3, Sharks 1 (2/28/23)

 Team Teal got off to a good start in this one but would ultimately fall to the Montreal Canadiens 3-1.

The Sharks opened the scoring early in the first period on Jacob MacDonald’s first goal as a Shark. Later in the first, Tomas Hertl made an impressive shot block on a chance by Rem Pitlick in front of the net. 

San Jose played well in this one for the most part, but their lack of offense when it mattered most is what cost them. The Habs scored two goals in a roughly two-minute span between the eight- and ten-minute marks in the third via Kaiden Guhle and Jesse Ylonen to take their first lead of the night. Montreal then finished this one off with five seconds to go with an empty-netter from Christian Dvorak. 

Kaapo Kahkonen completed the night with 29 saves on 31 shots against. Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson made their Sharks debuts Tuesday night after they were acquired from the Devils in the Timo Meier trade on Sunday. In addition, Radim Simek is back in the Sharks’ lineup, while Kevin Labanc was out due to the birth of his son Erik earlier today. 

In other news, the Sharks made a minor trade earlier today, acquiring the rights to defenseman Henry Thrun from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick. Thrun is currently playing for Harvard and would become an unrestricted free agent if he doesn't sign a new contract with the Sharks by August 15. As for the second most significant piece headed to the Devils in the Timo Meier trade on Sunday, Scott Harrington has now been claimed by the Ducks after the Devils placed him on waivers following the trade. 

This has been yet another instance of glorified tanking by the Sharks. Since the playoffs are out of the picture this year, Team Teal would be better off continuing to play this way the rest of the season to better their chances of winning the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, but I'll take any result that this team can get at this point. Next up, the Sharks host a struggling St. Louis Blues team on Thursday at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

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