The San Jose Sharks visit PNC Arena to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
But Teuvo Teravainen dropped a hat trick on them, and the Sharks got shut out again, 3-0. They’re now 0-7-1, one regulation loss away from tying 1993-94’s franchise-worst 0-8-1 start.
Period 1
Eklund has been flying first couple of shifts, maybe the best Shark on the ice. That’s the stuff, love his assertiveness.
Kunin penalty: Oh man, and the San Jose Sharks had momentum. Carpenter starts the PK, one reason why he’s up. However, Teravainen scores. Sharks down again.
7 in: I like Kunin overall, but he’s got to start doing something with his chances. And I give him full credit for being in the right place and the right time — that’s a skill too — but that’s another Eklund feed, potential Grade-A chance, that doesn’t connect.
Carolina 10-3 shots, but at least Sharks shots have been dangerous. They look better, though far from good. Kahkonen has been very good.
9 left: Noesen has a too-easy Grade-A chance, really poor team defense there, no reason for that. Chatfield has a step on Carpenter, going behind the net, but Emberson is too aggressive to cut off Chatfield, leaves Noesen alone in slot. Kahkonen bails him out. Hedican observed the same point about Emberson, he’s got to hold until Carpenter has a chance to rotate.
PP1: Burroughs-Eklund-Hertl-Duclair-Hoffman, PP2: Knyzhov-Zetterlund-Labanc-Kunin-Zadina.
Teravainen goal: Hedican says he didn’t like the work off the faceoff. But you also want a stop from Kahkonen there, I think. From a distance and at an angle. Remenda, however, says it was a fantastic shot.
5 left: Looks like Rutta pinches on less than a 50-50, Hurricanes 2-on-1.
Period 2
1 in: Another good Eklund shift, and Sturm draws the penalty. As I said last game, I love Sturm being played up. I know he’s not a true second-line center, but he is the Sharks’ second-best center right now, and he fills in, like Kunin should, areas that Eklund isn’t as strong at. I feel like you can debate Kunin up there, maybe try another more offensive winger, but again, for better or worse, Sturm is the San Jose Sharks’ second-best center right now. There’s no real debate on that.
PP1 has had a pulse, but PP2 awful there.
3 in: Another Hoffman crossbar. Second this year. Time and space, he can still crank it.
8 left: Good job by Zadina to close and kill play.
4 left: Like that Knyzhov head fake. Followed by solid work by Labanc and Carpenter and company on the forecheck. Funny to think, while Labanc wasn’t long for the AHL, they were Barracuda teammates in 2016-17.
2 left: Big save by Kahkonen off odd boards bounce.
Hey, San Jose Sharks 6-4 Slot Shots in the period. Actually a competitive period.
Period 3
1 in: Better battle from Hoffman there, pickpocketed, but doesn’t give up on play.
Sturm hits a post, Canes come down other side, establish zone time, score. Sigh. On the post, Sturm faceoff win, then he heads to net, beats Necas to puck.
Teravainen goal: Funny to think, I would guess the Sharks could’ve acquired him if they had sent Erik Karlsson to the Canes. The cap makes sense. Hedican thinks Rutta was too aggressive along wall, maybe it’s a systems thing, what he’s used to, but that’s been something of an issue with him, Nicolas Roy goal, I think. He chases the check and loses Jarvis, who cross-slots it to Teuvo.
Feels like San Jose Sharks had sails taken out again, after Teravainen hat trick.
Sharks now 151:30 without a goal.
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