The San Jose Sharks visit TD Garden to take on the Boston Bruins.
The Sharks were shut out 3-0, making for the first time in franchise history that San Jose has failed to win a road game in the first two months of a season.
Period 1
2 in: Again, Zetterlund gets the puck in the middle of the slot, fires. Direct. Doesn’t look for that extra pass.
4 in: Like that forecheck from Sturm and MacDonald. MacDonald quietly has done a decent job swinging from bottom-six forward and PP2 quarterback.
Eklund penalty: Sure, the San Jose Sharks have been on the wrong end of the stick in terms of penalties tonight…but that was a bad penalty from Eklund.
Right off the Boston PP, Eklund and Granlund aggressive on Marchand high on entry. Forces a turnover. Sharks PK has improved in terms of results, curious if it’s for real.
6 left: Great off the glass clear by Okhotiuk off Granlund DZ faceoff win. Sharks badly needed a change. Good touch.
5 left: MacDonald draws the call. More good work.
Addison-Hertl-Eklund-Zetterlund-Granlund is PP1, MacDonald-Hoffman-Bailey-Duclair-Kunin is PP2.
2 left: Not sure where Bailey is going there. Goes weakside on breakout, but no Shark in sight. 30 seconds of Boston zone time.
Smith only played a shift in their period, early, not sure why.
San Jose Sharks played a very solid opening frame, SPORTLOGiQ has SJS 4-3 Slot Shots and 1-0 High-Danger at Even Strength.
Period 2
Heinen goal: Hertl simply has to get that out. But even the reaction is problematic, he chases Poitras, which is understandable. On the other hand, Ferraro and Eklund are locking down the middle, where Poitras is going. Heinen slips free off to the side for the one-timer. Not a great angle, but it’s not a bad shooting area, especially with the goalie on the move. I’m not sure if Hertl is charged to help in the middle there or if just overreacted. Possible Sharks are just ceding the outside shot.
DeBrusk goal: Hedican points out poor coverage from Addison, just an unforced error, poor positioning. Shades too far to his left, not holding his side of the ice. DeBrusk able to beat him easily to the outside. Similar to last goal in the sense that Hertl and Addison were too puck-focused, concentrating on the middle, which is understandable, but no attention paid to the weakside.
10 in: Bruins up 12-3 shots so far in the middle frame. It’s getting ugly.
7 left: Poitras draws a call by throwing his head back. Then Smith boards Marchand. Honestly, that’s fair, Poitras shoulve been called for embellishing. And Smith could’ve been standing up for Eklund, which I don’t mind, but that’s a clear board, right into the numbers. So it could’ve been a two-man Boston advantage, last thing Sharks need.
Kunin blocked a shot earlier, more bad news:
Givani Smith 10-9 over Frederic. Both took each other “down”, but Smith had a quicker start with his left.
Let’s see what the San Jose Sharks PP does in a must-score situation, two 5-on-3 minutes.
A solid first followed by an awful middle frame. BOS 7-2 Slot Shots, 4-0 High-Danger at ES.
Period 3
Kunin on the bench to start the final frame, good.
Awful 5-on-3. No shots, just looking for the perfect play. That’s unacceptable. Full two-minute two-man advantage, down a goal, feels like everybody is afraid to take that shot, make that mistake that misses.
Late in the game, you’re not likely to win, be nice for some guys to break some slumps: Anthony Duclair is up there among guys counted on for production, hasn’t scored a point in seven games. Hasn’t looked quite the same since his strep throat.
A little Granlund on Hertl’s wing. I wonder if that’s where he goes if/when Couture returns. Scouts have suggested to me that might be the best spot for him at this stage of his career. Also considering that Granlund probably won’t be playing with the cream of the crop wingers from third-line center.
First time in Sharks history that they haven’t won a road game in the first two months of a season. 0-10-0 on the road, have scored just six goals, and have already been shut out four times. By the way, 1991-92 Sharks lost their first 13 road games.
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