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Saturday, November 30, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 27 Recap: Sharks 4, Kraken 2 (11/30/24)

The Sharks sweep the home-and-home back-to-back set with the Kraken, winning 4-2 in the second game in Seattle.

Team Teal get on the board first late in the opening period on Mario Ferraro’s second goal of the season, with assists from Mikael Granlund and Timothy Liljegren. San Jose resumed scoring early in the second period, as Luke Kunin scored his sixth goal of the season to extend the lead to two, with assists from Ty Dellandrea and Jake Walman. Later in the second period, the Sharks scored twice more, starting with Cody Ceci’s first goal in teal, assisted by Macklin Celebrini and Jake Walman, and followed by Will Smith’s fifth NHL goal, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Klim Kostin. Soon after the Sharks made it 4-0, the Kraken got on the board around the ten-minute mark of the middle frame via Jaden Schwartz.

Skip to around the six-and-a-half-minute mark of the third period, Jared McCann scored to cut the Sharks’ lead to two. The Kraken further attempted to mount a comeback of sorts, scoring with seven seconds remaining in regulation to get within one, but luckily this last goal was challenged and overturned due to goaltender interference.

Mackenzie Blackwood started in net for the Sharks in the second game of this home-and-home back-to-back set, registering 36 saves on 38 shots against. This also marks the first time this season that Will Smith played in back-to-back games.

It’s great to see this Sharks team further coming together and continuing to click and generate offense from most everyone. In addition, a big second period from the Sharks was the main factor putting them over the top in this one. Team Teal is still on the road for its next five games and traveling to the nation’s capital for its next game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday at 4 pm PT.

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

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Friday, November 29, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 26 Recap: Sharks 8, Kraken 5 (11/29/24)

The Sharks produced their now biggest offensive output in a game this season, and this game offered a bit of everything, as they earn a huge win over the Seattle Kraken 8-5.

The Sharks struck first early in the opening period on Timothy Liljegren’s third goal of the season, with assists from Tyler Toffoli and Alex Wennberg. Roughly a minute later, the Kraken evened the game at one via Oliver Bjorkstrand. Late in the first period, on the Sharks power play, Klim Kostin picks up the rebound on a shot from Fabian Zetterlund and scored his first goal of the season, with William Eklund recording the secondary assist on this goal. However, after the following faceoff, Chandler Stephenson would score to tie the game at two for Seattle. Within the final minute of opening period, the Kraken gained their first lead of the day on their power play via Shane Wright scoring on a bounce that went their way.

Early in the second period, Will Smith scored a beauty for his fourth in the NHL, with the lone assist on this goal going to Mikael Granlund. Later in the second period, Shane Wright scored his second goal and second power play goal of the game for the Kraken to go back ahead by one. Following this go-ahead goal was a string of three unanswered by the Sharks, starting with Jake Walman teeing one up for his third goal of the season, with assists from William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini. This was proceeded about five minutes later by Mikael Granlund’s tenth goal of the season, assisted by Klim Kostin and Will Smith, and Macklin Celebrini’s eighth goal of the season, assisted by Fabian Zetterlund, to give the Sharks a two-goal lead for their biggest lead of the day. However, with 17 seconds remaining in the middle frame, Yanni Goirde scored to cut the Sharks’ lead back down to one.

The scoring resumed early in the third period, as Ethan Cardwell scored his first NHL goal to make it 7-5 Sharks, with assists from Nico Sturm and Henry Thrun. Soon after, Klim Kostin fought Will Borgen after Borden had pinned Mikael Granlund to the boards, completing the Gordie Howe hat trick for Kostin and the 21st Gordie Howe hat trick in Sharks history. Lastly, the Sharks finished things off with just under five minutes remaining in the game on an empty-netter by Jake Walman for his second goal of the contest and fourth of the season.

Vitek Vanecek was back in net for the Sharks, recording 26 saves on 31 shots against. In addition, yesterday, prior to this game, Barclay Goodrow was placed on IR while Ethan Cardwell was recalled from the Barracuda. On the other hand, Mikael Granlund is back in the Sharks lineup, while Jack Thompson, Givani Smith, and Carl Grundstrom were healthy scratches this afternoon.

This performance by the Sharks this afternoon was simply incredible. Besides Macklin Celebrini becoming the second 18-year old in Sharks franchise history besides Jeff Friesen to score goals in three consecutive games, I deeply admire Celebrini’s skilled skating and puck-handling, along with his ability to always keep his head up when skating with the puck. The Sharks and Kraken face each other again tomorrow, this time in Seattle at 7 pm PT.

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, Curtis Pashelka via X

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 25 Recap: Senators 4, Sharks 3 (11/27/24)

The Sharks couldn’t quite overcome a slow start as they lose 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators scored twice in the first period via Adam Gaudette and Josh Norris to get this one started. Unfortunately, Barclay Goodrow exited the game in the first period and didn’t return due to an upper-body injury. Near the midway point of the second period, Mario Ferraro put the Sharks on the board and back in this game with his first goal of the season, with assists from Will Smith and Klim Kostin. Later in the middle frame, the Sens regained their two-goal lead on Tyler Kleven’s first NHL goal.

The Sharks mounted a comeback of sorts to begin the third period, starting with Macklin Celebrini scoring his seventh NHL goal on a great backhand pass from William Eklund to get back within one. Jake Walman made the initial shot from the point for the secondary assist to set up William Eklund to grab the rebound and make the sweet backhand pass to Macklin Celebrini to find the back of the net. Later in the third period, the Sharks tied the game at three on a somewhat fluky goal by Will Smith for his third in the NHL, with assists from Fabian Zetterlund and Timothy Liljegren. However, the Senators would have the last laugh, as Adam Gaudette would score his second goal of the game to retake the lead and ultimately win it for the Senators.

Mackenzie Blackwood was back in net for the Sharks and has definitely had better days in the crease, recording seven saves on 11 shots against. In addition, yesterday the Sharks brought Jack Thompson back up from the Barracuda and reassigned Yaroslav Askarov to the Barracuda, while Mikael Granlund was out for a second consecutive game due to an upper-body injury.

The other crazy aspect about how this game went down and its end result is that the Sharks outshot the Senators 39-11. Ottawa also didn’t register a shot on goal for most of the third period, fueling the Sharks’ comeback attempt. The Sharks generated many scoring chances throughout this game, but Sens goalie Linus Ullmark slammed the door shut on many of them. Next up, the Sharks close out their current homestand in an afternoon matinee on Friday, hosting the Seattle Kraken at 12:30 pm PT.

Sources: TSN, Curtis Pashelka via X, NHL App

Monday, November 25, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 24 Recap: Sharks 7, Kings 2 (11/25/24)

The Sharks erupted for five goals in the third period as they earn their second win over their rival LA Kings this season 7-2.

Team Teal struck first early in the opening period on a breakaway goal by Nico Sturm for his fourth of the season, with assists from Mario Ferraro and Yaroslav Askarov. The Kings then tied it at one via Brandt Clarke early in the second period. Later in the second period, Anze Kopitar put the Kings ahead by one, while San Jose evened things up at two on a wraparound deflection by Fabian Zetterlund for his ninth goal of the season, with assists from William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini.

The ensuing third period would result in the Sharks’ biggest and most dominant period that Sharks have played so far this season. San Jose scored five unanswered goals throughout the final frame to gain complete control of this game and dismantle the Kings. It went as follows: Macklin Celebrini scored his fifth NHL goal on a borderline no-look shot to put the Sharks ahead about a minute into the third period, with assists from Henry Thrun and Jan Rutta. Roughly a minute later, Timothy Liljegren scored his second goal as a Shark to extend the lead to two, with Will Smith registering the lone assist on this goal. It was challenged by the Kings for goalie interference and the call stood as a good goal, and I have no idea what the Kings' coaching staff was thinking there when deciding to challenge this goal. About another minute later, Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the game and sixth goal of the season, this time on a two-man advantage, to make it 5-2 Sharks and cap off his first three-point performance of his NHL career, with the assists going to William Eklund and Will Smith. Skip ahead to the 10:46 mark of the third, Alex Wennberg scored on a separate Sharks power play for his sixth goal of the season to make it 6-2, with the lone assist on this goal credited to Jake Walman. Lastly, with around 1:20 remaining in regulation, Luke Kunin scored his fifth goal of the season to further extend the Sharks' lead to five and complete their most dominant victory of the 2024-25 campaign. In addition, the seven goals scored by the Sharks in this contest are the most they have scored in a game this season.

Yaroslav Askarov made his first start at SAP Center tonight against the Kings and earned his first win as a Shark, recording 22 saves on 24 shots against. In addition, Nico Sturm was activated off of the IR and is back on the active roster, while Mikael Granlund was out due to an upper-body injury, Henry Thrun is back in the Sharks lineup, and Jack Thompson was re-assigned to the Barracuda.

Overall, what an amazing and unbelievable third period by the Sharks in their second win over L.A. at home this season. All I could do was laugh at how enjoyable that third period was by this Sharks team, and I would absolutely love for them to put on more performances like this throughout the remainder of this season. The Sharks' current homestand continues on Wednesday, when they host the Ottawa Senators in their next game at 7:30 pm PT.

Sources: FanDuel Sportsnet West, Curtis Pashelka and Sheng Peng via X, NHL App

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 23 Recap: Sabres 4, Sharks 2 (11/23/24)

On Jumbo Joe Thornton’s special day, a close game occurred between the Sharks and Buffalo Sabres, but Team Teal coughed up its lead in the third period and wound up losing 4-2.

I first want to begin with the most important and significant event and milestone that occurred before this game, which was the Joe Thornton jersey retirement ceremony. It was a simply incredible, epic, and spectacular moment that will be immortalized in Sharks franchise history as the second player to ever have his jersey number retired by the Sharks besides Jumbo’s longtime teammate Patrick Marleau. It was certainly a heartwarming, amazing, and at times emotional ceremony, which also brought out many of Joe Thornton’s former teammates, with my favorite appearance being that of Joe Pavelski. Speaking of Little Joe, he needs to be the next player that the Sharks honor with a jersey retirement ceremony. In addition, Jumbo Joe’s family and a few of his former coaches were in attendance as well. Besides Pavelski’s appearance, I enjoyed the speech that Joe Thornton gave during his ceremony with his full uplifting personality on display. What a great way for San Jose to honor a franchise legend and one of the greatest playmakers in NHL history, and I am looking forward to seeing Thornton’s no. 19 hanging in the rafters at SAP Center at my next Sharks game, hopefully sometime this season.

Onto the game itself versus the Sabres, Fabian Zetterlund opened the scoring for the Sharks in the first period with his eighth goal of the season, assisted by Jake Walman and William Eklund. Soon after, Peyton Krebs scored to even the game at one for the Sabres. The Sharks retook the lead early in the second period on Luke Kunin’s fourth goal of the season, with assists from Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg. In addition, I must give credit where credit is due, as former Sharks goalie James Reimer made an absolutely unreal diving glove save in the middle frame to rob Macklin Celebrini of a goal to keep the Sharks’ lead at one.

The Sabres scored twice early in the third period via Dylan Cozens and a shorthanded rally from Alex Tuch to gain their first lead of the night. Lastly, as time was expiring in regulation, Buffalo placed the nail in the coffin, as Rasmus Dahlin scored an empty-netter to give the Sabres a two-goal lead and put this one away for good.

Mackenzie Blackwood was back in net for the Sharks against the Sabres, registering 27 saves on 30 shots against.

An interesting fact I heard as to why it all made sense for Joe Thornton’s jersey retirement ceremony to be held ahead of tonight’s game against the Sabres is that Jumbo’s first game as a Shark during the 2005-06 season was against the Sabres. The final point I want to state about this game specifically is that despite not getting the win for Jumbo, it was a great, competitive, and toe-to-toe game between these two clubs until the very end. The Sharks’ current homestand continues on Monday when they face their rival in the Los Angeles Kings for the third time this season at 7:30 pm PT.

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 22 Recap: Blues 3, Sharks 2 (SO) (11/21/24)

The Sharks overcame a slow start and climbed back in this one, but couldn’t get it done in the shootout once again as the St. Louis Blues win 3-2.

The Blues got things going immediately, as Nathan Walker scores on the first shot of the game to put St. Louis on the board. The Sharks responded about eight minutes later on their first power play opportunity of the game on Alex Wennberg’s fourth goal of the season, with assists from Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini. St. Louis regained the lead in the second period via Jordan Kyrou to make it 2-1 through two periods of play.

With 8.8 seconds remaining in regulation, the Sharks’ resiliency was on full display, as Alex Wennberg scored his second goal of the game and fifth of the season to tie things up at two to force extras. San Jose had some great individual efforts in the OT period to get this game to a shootout, but there wasn’t enough shots on goal from them to try to win it during 3-on-3 overtime. The difference-maker during the skills competition was Jake Neighbours, who scored the only goal in the shootout to seal the victory for the Blues.

Yaroslav Askarov officially made his Sharks debut tonight in St. Louis and had a solid performance, recording 29 saves on 31 shots against. In addition, Jack Thompson and Givani Smith were back in the lineup in the second game of this back-to-back set, replacing Will Smith and Henry Thrun.

This Sharks team remains snake-bitten in shootouts this season, but despite only getting one point out of this contest, they played well against the Blues in St. Louis tonight. Next up, the Sharks return home to host an incredibly significant game against the Buffalo Sabres at 5 pm PT. This game is incredibly significant for the Sharks as they will be retiring Joe Thornton’s no. 19 to the rafters at SAP Center in a special pregame ceremony, the latter of which begins at 2:30 pm PT.

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Sharks 2024-25 Game 21 Recap: Stars 5, Sharks 2 (11/20/24)

The Sharks open their quick two-game back-to-back Midwest roadie with a 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

The Stars struck first late in the opening period via Jason Robertson, while Mikael Granlund evened things up at one a few minutes afterwards on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Mikael Granlund for his ninth of the year. William Eklund recorded the lone assist on the Sharks equalizer from Granlund for his seventh point in the past five games. Dallas regained the lead about a minute into the second period on a goal by Wyatt Johnston, while Jamie Benn extended the Stars’ lead to two at around the 11-minute mark of the middle frame.

Team Teal gets back to within one late in the third period on Jake Walman’s second goal of the season, with Mikael Granlund registering his 400th career assist on this goal. However, the Stars would wrap this game up in the final minute and a half of regulation with two empty-netters from Roope Hintz and Evgenii Dadonov to go up by three.

Mackenzie Blackwood finished his night with 26 saves on 29 shots against. In addition, late in the third period, Mikael Granlund took a high hit from Ilya Lyubushkin and was forced to exit the game and enter concussion protocol, whose status going forward has yet to be confirmed.

The Sharks round out their current road trip tomorrow in St. Louis against the Blues at 5 pm PT.

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