San Jose made it close at the end, but a one-sided second period in favor of the Canucks was the difference-maker, as the Sharks lose 4-3 to extend their skid to five games.
The Sharks get on the board first in the opening frame on a beautiful slapshot by William Eklund for his seventh goal of the season, which occurred on a Sharks two-man advantage and was assisted by Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini, the latter playing in his first game in his hometown of Vancouver. A few minutes later, the Canucks responded via Brock Boeser to even the game at one. Following that equalizer, Barclay Goodrow dropped the gloves with the much-taller Tyler Myers as a result of Myers’ hit on William Eklund prior to these goals. As for Eklund, he was supposedly shaken up enough after that hard hit that he exited the game after the first period and didn’t return the rest of the night.
There was plenty of confrontations between the Sharks and Canucks in the second period, the most significant one being between Ty Dellandrea and Danton Heinen following Dellandrea’s big hit to Teddy Blueger. The resulting penalties were an interference minor and fighting major for Dellandrea and an instigating minor, fighting major, and game misconduct for Heinen. Things began to unravel from there, as Vancouver scored three goals via Kiefer Sherwood and two from Elias Pettersson to close out the second period with a 4-1 lead. Pettersson’s second goal of the game was challenged by the Sharks for goalie interference, and there was a solid case to be made on that play, but the NHL situation r allowed the goal to stand, putting the Sharks back on the penalty kill for delay of game.
The Sharks climbed back in this game in the third period, starting at around the four-and-a-half-minute mark on Cody Cecil’s second goal of the season, which trickles into the net after Thatcher Demko made the initial save. Fabian Zetterlund recorded the lone assist on Cecil’s second goal of the year. Lastly, with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation, Luke Kunin scored his tenth goal of the season to get the Sharks within one, but the Sharks’ fate had already been determined well before that last goal was scored. Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli assisted on Kunin’s tenth goal of the year.
Yaroslav Askarov made his second consecutive start in net for Team Teal, recording 20 saves on 24 shots against. In addition, Jake Walman was out and is currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury, while Ty Dellandrea made his return to the Sharks lineup after missing the last three games.
The second period implosion and inconsistent officiating made this game rather frustrating. With the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators each winning tonight, the Sharks find themselves in 31st place in the entire NHL heading into the Christmas break. Team Teal returns to action on Friday at 7:30 pm PT to host the Vegas Golden Knights to begin a six-game homestand.
Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, Curtis Pashelka via X, NHL App
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