The San Jose Sharks visit Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils.
Jacob MacDonald and Anthony Duclair both scored twice, Mikael Granlund and William Eklund added one apiece, Kaapo Kahkonen was sensational, and the Sharks snapped their start of the season 10-game road losing streak with a 6-3 win.
Period 1
MacDonald goal: Great forecheck by the forward-defenseman. He catches Meier trying to break out. Honestly, Meier, perhaps coming back from his lower-body injury, looked slow and heavy there. Maybe just getting legs going. MacDonald forces a turnover, Sturm does a good job filtering it to the point, and Ferraro cross-slot passes it through an open middle of the ice to open MacDonald. Meier couldn’t recover on MacDonald, so he was open.
Mercer goal: When you’re hot, you’re hot. Devils’ top-ranked power play just gets a crazy bounce off the boards, easy one for Mercer.
Shots were NJD 7-6 before the PP, but the Devils got momentum on it, four shots including the goal. Watching if the Sharks can stem the tide.
5 left: Like that high DZ stick by Granlund, on it.
3 left: MacDonald chance off a Labanc forecheck.
Whoa Kahkonen pulled away from paint from Luke Hughes, but able to get back in position to square up to Hischier chance. Scary!
2 left: Another great example of Zetterlund taking the man instead of fishing for the loose puck. He locks up with Marino, then Granlund delivers a stretch pass to Duclair, near-breakaway. Solid all-around play.
1 left: Now Eklund steals it from Jack Hughes. You had the breakdown on the Hischier chance, but otherwise, Sharks responded well to New Jersey goal.
SPORTLOGiQ liked Sharks’ opening frame, SJS 4-2 High-Danger, 4-4 Slot Shots.
Period 2
1 in: Bad drop pass by Hertl or Eklund missed the pass? Leads to New Jersey 3-on-1. That must connect, especially high in the zone.
MacDonald goal: Another strong forecheck on that goal, MacDonald first on the forecheck, forces a bad Devils pass up the middle. Bailey picks up, hits MacDonald for a one-timer. Then Bailey keeps it alive along wall for MacDonald, who rims it to Benning. Sturm provides double-screen. Good, greasy hockey.
5 in: Eklund’s puck-moving just going nowhere. I wouldn’t say he’s been too cute, Hedican said that about the line, but he was probably talking about Hoffman’s hope cross-slot pass there. But Eklund is struggling tonight.
6 in: Another big stop by Kahkonen. San Jose Sharks get confused defensively. Sturm and Addison end up on Palat, one of them needs to switch and spy Luke Hughes on the weakside. Labanc was going man-to-man on Hischier. The center finds Hughes wide-open.
Duclair goal: Granlund forced two turnovers on this shift, both off Jack Hughes.
4 left: Holtz a fantastic move, Hoffman gets caught on wrong side in a one-on-one. Post. Hoffman was about to make Holtz’s career highlight reel there.
2 left: Good insistent forecheck by Labanc after getting stepped into by a Devil. But sticks with it, and Bailey almost has a Grade-A off the forecheck.
Period 3
That Randy Hahn joke was off an inexplicable New Jersey 3-on-1 crossbar off a Hertl shot that missed. I think Addison got too aggressive off not exactly a Grade-A chance. The miss becomes a hard rim feeding a Devils odd-man counterattack.
2 in: Great Bailey backcheck on Hischier. Love the effort.
Jack Hughes goal: Appreciate Benning playing fast, but that D-to-D pass to Addison too hard, too high. Unforced error, just giving a breakaway to one of the best players in the NHL.
Duclair goal: But the Devils giveth. A gorgeous Granlund area pass that Duclair is able to skate into. Hat tip to Benning, who kills a Holtz play in the DZ corner, which initiates the rush.
9 in: Big San Jose Sharks kill, Granlund again starring.
9 left: Hedican points out a good Emberson defensive play on Jack Hughes in the corner. Meets him on the inside, prevents Hughes from going behind the net.
Palat goal: Burroughs will look bad going all over the place, but in truth, the defense has no help. Kahkonen kicks out a rebound and there’s no Shark to help out down low, leaving Burroughs and Okhotiuk to contend with a down-low 3-on-2. Labanc and MacDonald look slow to help.
Granlund goal: Starts with a terrific Emberson indirect area pass that Duclair can skate into. Duke goes to the net hard, nobody picks up Granlund, and the Devils get what they deserve. Nemec in his NHL debut looks a little behind the action on this play, in terms of recovering to get in front of the net.
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