Sharks 2023-24 Game 3 Recap: Hurricanes 6, Sharks 3 (10/17/23)

 The Sharks played well for the first two periods, but fell apart in the third and allowed four straight goals from the Carolina Hurricanes to fall 6-3, dropping their third straight contest.

Team Teal got off to another great start early in the first period, as Fabian Zetterlund goes top corner for his first goal as a Shark, getting an assist from Tomas Hertl. The Hurricanes evened it up at one soon after via Seth Jarvis. Frederik Andersen was the starting goalie for the Canes, but he left the game while still early in the first frame after being hit in the mask with a shot, with Antti Raanta taking Andersen's place in the Canes net. Still in the first period, Jalen Chatfield laid a dangerous hit on Tomas Hertl into the boards, and Filip Zadina went right after Chatfield, with Zadina being the only player penalized during that scrum. It was great seeing Zadina stick up for Hertl during that moment.

Towards the midway point of the second period, Carolina went ahead on a Jaccob Slavin shorthanded goal, while Filip Zadina responded with a power play goal to even things up at two. Fabian Zetterlund recorded the assist on the Zadina power play goal. Later on in the middle frame, William Eklund scored his first goal of the season and first power-play goal in the NHL to reclaim the lead for San Jose. Tomas Hertl and Henry Thrun were credited with the assists on this third goal. Fast forward to the third period, when the Hurricanes scored four consecutive goals from Stefan Noesen, Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas, and Brett Pesce to gain complete control of this game. 

Mackenzie Blackwood received the nod in net and was the primary factor keeping the Sharks in it for most of this game, recording 36 saves on 42 shots against. He now has the record for the most saves by any Sharks goalie during his first two starts of the season after making 28 saves in the first two periods, bringing his total to 79. In addition, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic didn't play in this one due to a lower-body injury. 

The Sharks have began their 2023-24 campaign 0-2-1 thus far, which isn't any bit shocking considering their low expectations and the current state of their franchise. If they continue to play like they did against the Canes down the stretch of this one, wins will be few and far between for this Sharks team this season. Team Teal concludes its first homestand of the season on Thursday against the Boston Bruins at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: Sharks Audio Network, Curtis Pashelka via Twitter/X, NHL App 

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