Tag: Mikael Granlund

Oilers Rout Sharks 9-2, McDavid Earns 100th Point of Season

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The San Jose Sharks William Eklund (72) taking a shot that was blocked by the Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard (2) in the third period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Mon Apr 16, 2024 (The Canadian Press via AP)

By Mary Walsh

Connor McDavid, Adam Henrique, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, Corey Perry, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers. Stuart Skinner made 19 saves for the 9-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Connor McDavid earned his 100th assist of the season in the game, only the second Oiler and the fourth NHL player to do so.

Danil Gushchin and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the Sharks. Mikael Granlund extended his point streak to 12 games with an assist. Devin Cooley made 14 saves on 22 shots before being pulled in the second period. Georgi Romanov made 15 on 16 shots saves in his NHL debut.

For the third time this season, the Sharks allowed nine or more goals. After the game, Sharks Head Coach David Quinn said: “We never looked like we were really… thought we had a chance. That’s kinda what it felt like. We were slow, very slow in everything that we were doing. We were losing a lot of battles and it was a lot of hesitation in our game.”

Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said: “That was really what I thought went wrong today, is we maybe looked at the lineup on the other end and we played scared in the first period. And obviously it was a snowball effect.”

Sharks center Luke Kunin talked about the disappointing game and how the team let goaltender Devin Cooley down: “We didn’t help him out at all. With the odd-mans, how many looks he was getting, with the way that we started the game. You know, try to say a few things to him, obviously he’s a competitive guy as well, it wasn’t his fault by any means.”

Connor McDavid started the scoring just 53 seconds into the first period. McDavid carried the puck into the zone at speed and as he approached the goal line, he centered the puck for Zach Hyman. The pass did not get through. Instead, it hit Marc-Edouard Vlasic and went into the net. An assist went to Darnell Nurse.

Adam Henrique made it 2-0 at 4:01. Catching a Brett Kulak pass from the blue line, Henrique settled the puck down in traffic before lifting it over Cooley for the goal.

Warren Foegele added another at 10:40. Skating in two-on-one with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Foegele scored with a wrist shot from inside the faceoff circle. An assist went to Leon Draisaitl.

At this point, the Sharks still only had one shot on goal. By the end of the period, they had six shots ot the Oilers’ 10.

At 19:35, Dylan Holloway tipped in the fourth Oilers goal off a shot from Adam Henrique. Assists to Henrique and Nurse.

The Sharks got on the board at 1:58 of the second period. Danil Gushchin took a shot from the goal line that snuck between the Skinner and the post. An assist went to Thomas Bordeleau.

Less than three minutes later, Foegele scored his second of the night to make it 5-1. Foegele redirected a shot from Nugent-Hopkins. Cooley stopped that but the puck got away from him and Foegele followed up and poked the puck over the line. Assists went to Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl.

Corey Perry made it 6-1 near the midpoint of the period. Evan Bouchard went for the shot and Cooley came out to stop it. But the puck went past him and Perry was lurking by the other post to poke the puck in. Assists went to Bouchard and Holloway.

Cody Ceci made it 7-1 at 13:18. Trailing the play and then going ot the net, Ceci redirected a pass from Henrique. Assists went to Henrique and Hyman.

Evan Bouchard made it 8-1, just 31 seconds later. In a play almost exactly like the prior one, Corey Perry sent the puck across the ice for Bouchard to redirect past Cooley on the glove side. Assists went to Perry and Holloway.

The Sharks pulled Cooley after that one and put rookie Georgi Romanov in net.

A little less than a minute later, Zach Hyman scored to make it 9-1. In another two-on-one, Connor McDavid and Hyman skated in. McDavid a short pass for Hyman to nudge in. Assists went to McDavid and Nurse.

That was it for the Oilers. The Sharks scored one in the third period. Mikael Granlund carried the puck in two-on-one with Fabian Zetterlund. Granlund took a shot while skating through center ice. Skinner stopped that. William Eklund got a stick on it but it did not go in. The puck bounced around in the blue paint before Zetterlund got his stick on it and scored with a backhand shot. Assists went to Eklund and Granlund.

The Sharks will play their final game of the season at 6:00 PM PT on Thursday in Calgary against the Flames.

Sharks End Losing Streak, Shut Out Blues 4-0

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The St Louis Blues Pavel Buchnevich (89) and the San Jose Sharks Ryan Carpenter (22) battle for the puck in third period action at the Enterprise Center in St Louis on Sat Mar 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks shut out the St Louis Blues 4-0 on Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St Louis. The win ended a nine-game losing streak for San Jose and dimmed the Blues’ playoff hopes. Filip Zadina, Mikael Granlund, Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta scored for the Sharks. Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves for the shutout win. Joel Hofer made 16 saves for the Blues.

After the game, Sharks forward Luke Kunin talked about how the team shifted gears from a lackadaisical first period to a very successful second period: “All the things we were doing well in previous games, as far as getting out of our zone, breakouts, we were just not doing any of that. Talked it over there, after the first, and I think you saw it got a lot better throughout the rest of the game.”

In a penalty-free and scoreless first period, the Sharks had just three shots to the Blues’ eleven. The first goal of the game came almost half way through the second period, from Filip Zadina. He stole the puck from Zack Bolduc in the corner and skated back to the slot where he scored with a quick wrist shot.

Mikael Granlund made it 2-0 at 12:05. Granlund followed Fabian Zetterlund’s shot to the net. When the puck bounced off the post and landed behind the goalie in the blue paint, Granlund was there to scoop the puck over the line. Assists went to Zetterlund and William Eklund.

Luke Kunin made it 3-0 at 17:58. Justin Bailey beat a defender to the puck with Hofer out of the net, but he didn’t manage a shot. Nonetheless, he caused the defender to dive for the puck. The puck trickled away, into the path of Kunin, who was racing into the zone. He gathered up the puck for a wrist shot.

The Sharks outshot the Blues twelve to three in that second period. The Sharks took one penalty but that penalty kill was abbreviated when the Blues took an overlapping penalty 40 seconds in. The Blues took two more penalties in the period but no one scored on the power play.

In the first seven minutes of the third period, the Blues managed eleven shots on goal to the Sharks’ two. The Blues pulled their goaltender with just under four minutes to go. Less than a minute later, Jan Rutta took a shot shot next to the Sharks net and scored in the empty net at the other end. An assist went to Nico Sturm.

The Sharks next play on Monday at home against the Seattle Kraken at 7:30 PM PT.

Sharks Fall Prey to Surging Predators, Lose 8-2

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Chrona Magnus (30) was pelted with shots all night here the Nashville Predators right winger Michael McCarron (47) celebrates after scoring in the second period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tue Mar 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 8-2 to the Nashville Predators Tuesday. The Predators have now won 13 of their last 15 games, and earned overtime points in the other two of those 15. Roman Josi, Jason Zucker, Michael McCarron, Luke Evangelista, Mark Jankowski and Tommy Novak scored for Nashville.

Juuse Saros made 18 saves for the win. Mikael Granlund and Mario Ferraro scored for San Jose. Magnus Chrona made 32 saves in the loss. The Sharks have now lost five in a row. In their last ten games, they have one win, one overtime loss and one shootout loss.

After the game, two former Predators described the game in gloomy terms. Mikael Granlund described the game as: “A good thirty minutes and bad next 30 minutes.” Luke Kunin said: “Bad in the D zone, not closing quick enough, giving ‘em too much time and space, them getting behind us, us turning pucks over. I think it was pretty clear the things we were doing to kind of feed their offense.”

Sharks Head Coach David Quinn gave the Predators credit for playing well: “They obviously are in a great groove right now, they’re playing really good hockey, they’re fast, they’re physical, they really play to their identity, each line plays to their identity, they know who they are.” On the other hand, of the Sharks he said: “I thought we did a good job for the first 30 minutes and [then] just really got away from giving ourselves any type of chance.”

The first goal of the game came midway through the first period. Filip Forsberg got to the puck after a faceoff, sent it to Ryan McDonagh at the point. McDonagh sent it along the blue line to Roman Josi who scored with a slap shot.

Mikael Granlund tied the game at 17:18. Klim Kostin’s pass found Granlund skating into the zone clear of any defenders. He took a quick wrist shot to score his tenth of the season. Assists went to Kostin and Mario Ferraro.

Mario Ferraro gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead with a wrist shot from high in the zone at 5:46 of the second period.

Jason Zucker tied it back up at 9:37. When Colton Sissons’ shot trickled under Chrona, Zucker got behind the goaltender to push it over the line. Assists went to Sissons and McDonagh.

Michael McCarron gave the Predators the lead again at 15:26. Roman Josi skated down to the net and had almost reached the goal line when he centered the puck into some traffic. Keifer Sherwood took a shot and that created a rebound that went to McCarron for a shot at an open net.

Luke Evangelista made it 4-2 at 17:50. Skating across the slot, he took a backhand shot that beat Chrona. Assists went to Josi and Forsberg.

Cole Smith deflected a shot into the net after time expired for the period, scoring the first of two consecutive disallowed goals for the Predators.

Luke Evangelista pushed the puck into the net early in the third period but the goal was called back as Zucker pushed Chrona into the net before Evangelista took the shot.

Michael McCarron scored his second of the night at 10:35 of the third period. He caught a pass off the boards and shot around some traffic to score. An assist went to Sherwood.

Mark Jankowski made it 6-2 at 14:13, deflecting a shot from Tyson Barrie. Barrie and Anthony Beauvillier got the assists.

Filip Forsberg scored his second of the night just 30 seconds later. Gustav Nyquist failed to score from the goal line but created a rebound for Forsberg. Assists went to Nyquist and McDonagh.

Tommy Novak scored his 15th of the season to make it 8-2 at 16:16 with a backhand shot. Assists went to Sherwood and Jankowski.

The Sharks next play on Thursday back in San Jose against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 PM PT.

Sharks Douse Flames 6-3, Zadina and Kunin 2 Goals Each

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The San Jose Sharks Luke Kunin (right) and the Calgary Flames Brayden Pachal (left) watch the play in front of them in the first period at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Thu Feb 15, 2024 (Canadian Press via AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

In their first meeting this season, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 6-3 on Thursday. Mikael Granlund and Justin Bailey scored for San Jose, while Luke Kunin and Filip Zadina each scored twice. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the win. Zadina had four points in the game, a career high. Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund and Andrei Kuzmenko scored for Calgary. Dustin Wolf made 25 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks forward Justin Bailey, who had three points in the game, said:

“Obviously things haven’t been easy for us as a group but I think the one thing that’s been a staple throughout the whole year is we’ve maintained a positive attitude, we’ve maintained trust and belief in the system of what we’re doing and nights like tonight when all things kind of seem to go in your favor, it feels good as a group.”

Nazem Kadri scored the only goal in the first period, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead at 4:19. Kadri deflected a rebound from Martin Pospisil’s shot in a three-on-one rush. The Flames had two power plays in the first period and out-shot the Sharks 13-8.

The Flames had another power play less than two minutes into the second period, but the Sharks killed that and tied the game at 4:52. Mikael Granlund scored with a wrist shot from the face-off circle. An assist went to Filip Zadina.

The Sharks took the lead at 7:50 with a goal from Justin Bailey. After a quick give and go in front of the net with Zadina, Bailey had an open net to shoot at.

At the very end of their first power play of the game, the Sharks made it 3-1 with a goal from Luke Kunin at 12:30. Kunin slipped the puck by Wolf right at the post. The goal came in what was really a 16 second power play for the Sharks, as most of the power play was eaten up by four-on-four play due to overlapping penalties. The goal was missed at first and only on review did the officials identify it. Assists went to William Eklund and Kyle Burroughs.

Mikael Backlund cut the lead down to one with at goal at 19:40. His wrist shot found its way through a crowd at the corner of the net. A scrum followed as Blackwood was knocked over by two falling skaters, one from each team. The Sharks challenged the goal on the basis of goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld. Assists went to Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.

Filip Zadina made it 4-2 at 4:38 of the third period. Zadina deflected Nico Sturm’s shot from the point, using the shaft of his stick while skating through the faceoff circle. Assists went to Sturm and Bailey.

Zadina scored again less than a minute later at 5:15. This time, he scored with a wrist shot while using a Calgary defender as a screen. Assists went to Bailey and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Luke Kunin scored his second of the game at 15:30 to make it 6-2. After the puck in the neutral zone, Kunin surprised the Flames and skated into the zone all on his own. He put the puck up under the crossbar to beat Wolf.

Andrei Kuzmenko redirected a shot by Chris Tanev to make it 6-3 at 16:40.

At 13:22 of the second period, Jan Rutta fell to the ice with some help from Walker Duehr’s wide-swinging leg that took out Rutta’s legs. He left the game.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at 7:30 PM PT in San Jose against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Jets Shut Out Sharks 1-0, Ferraro and Granlund Return, Hertl and Couture Out

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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) deflects the puck that goes wide as the Jets Dylan DeMelo (2) defends against the San Jose Sharks Mikeal Granlund (64) at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg on Wed Feb 14, 2024 (The Canadian Press via AP photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks were shut out 1-0 by the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. Morgan Barron scored the only goal in the game and Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves for the shutout win. Kaapo Kahkonen made 38 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen said, of the many shots he faced: “They’re a pretty high shot volume team but overall I think what we did well was, even though they got a lot of shots on net, I think we boxed out, we kinda kept them outside so that was good for me.”

Sharks Head Coach David Quinn had a more dismal view of what the Sharks were doing with the puck:

“We had plenty of opportunities to make crisp passes and didn’t do it, I thought our puck play was really slow. I thought we were standing still when we got pucks. That really was the story to me of the night. I didn’t think we had any pace to our game with the puck.”

The Sharks started well in the first period, getting four shots on net before the Jets had any. The Jets turned that around and had 15 shots without allowing the Sharks any more in the period.

With 2:13 left in the period, the Jets scored. Morgan Barron deflected Adam Lowry’s shot from the point for his ninth goal of the season. Assists went to Lowry and Neal Pionk.

The Sharks took one penalty in the first period and allowed one shot to the Jets power play.

At 17:10 of the second period, it looked like Anthony Duclair might have tied the game. A review showed that the puck was stopped by Mark Sheifele, who had slipped in behind his goaltender.

The Jets again out-shot the Sharks in the second period, 16-8. Each team took a penalty in the second period. The Sharks allowed one shot to the Jets power play, and had one short-handed shot. They had no shots in their own power play.

Midway through the third period, Nico Sturm left the game after a hit from Logan Stanley, Stanley’s knee came up behind Sturm’s legs as Sturm fell, causing Sturm to hit the ice head and shoulders first.

In the final minute, Kaapo Kahkonen sustained what appeared to be a lower body injury. He was able to get to the bench so the Sharks could add an extra skater.

The final shot count was 40-18 Jets. In the face-off circle, the Sharks won 38.5% of the draws. Nico Sturn led the team in shots with four.

Mario Ferraro and Mikael Granlund were back in the lineup after being injured before the All Star break. Both Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture were out. Hertl had scheduled knee surgery after the All Star Game. The team had advanced notice and, while the surgery was not emergent, it was needed. Logan Couture is having problems with the same lower body injury that kept him out for most of the season.

The Sharks next play on Thursday at 6:00 PM PT in Calgary against the Flames.

Sharks Fall 1-0 to Coyotes, Two Goals Called Back

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Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram (39) makes a stopping save against the San Jose Sharks left winger Fabian Zetterlund (20) in the second period at Mullet Arena in Tempe AZ on Fri Dec 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks were shutout 1-0 by the Arizona Coyotes Friday. Matias Maccelli scored the only goal in the game and Connor Ingram made 21 saves for the shutout win. Kaapo Kahkonen made 23 saves for the Sharks. It was the fifth time this season that the Sharks have been shut out. The Coyotes were coming off of a four game losing streak.

After the game, Sharks forward Anthony Duclair said: “I thought we just needed some more energy. I think we could have had a better start, I think we just played an okay game. That’s what happens. Obviously they were a desperate hockey team on the other side, losing four in a row.”

Sharks Head Coach David Quinn also commented on the team’s lack of energy:

“To manage just to kind of hang around I think it’s another example of our progress. I think a month ago if we had this type of energy we wouldn’t have been in the situation we were in by the end of the game. So, disappointing we lost, our PK was good, we didn’t draw a penalty which was disappointing but, again, you know, we hung around, had a chance to tie it.”

The one goal of the game came at 14:45 of the second period. Nick Bjugstad took a shot into some traffic on the right side of the net. Kahkonen stopped that but sent a rebound out to the right, to Matias Maccelli. Kahkonen could not get across in time to stop that one. Bjugstad and J.J. Moser got the assists.

It looked like the game was tied at 7:40 of the third period. William Eklund put the puck in the net off a rebound from a shot by Luke Kunin. However, the Coyotes challenged the goal. On review, contact between Kunin’s leg and Ingram’s stick was seen as goaltender interference and the goal was called back.

The game seemed to be tied again at 16:01 of the third period, when Mikael Granlund put the puck in the net. It was a beautiful goal, with Granlund skating through several Coyotes before scoring. But the Coyotes challenged again. The review found that Anthony Duclair was offside and the goal was called back.

The Sharks took four penalties and killed them all but they had no power plays. The shot count was close, 24-21 Coyotes. In the face-off circle, the Sharks struggled, winning just 37.5% of the draws. This was due in part to the absence of Nico Sturm, who was placed on injured reserved Friday.

The Sharks next play on Sunday at 5:00 PM PT in Colorado against the Avalanche.

Sharks Win 6-5 in OT Barnburner Against Red Wings

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MacKenzie Blackwood (29) is replaced in the second period by Kaapo Kahkonen (36) against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Cesars Pizza Arena in Detroit on Thu Dec 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks defeated Detroit Red Wings 6-5 in overtime Thursday. Sharks got goals from Fabian Zetterlund and Mikael Granlund, and Nico Sturm and Tomas Hertl each scored twice. Mackenzie Blackwood made 16 saves on 20 shots before being replaced by Kaapo Kahkonen, who made 10 saves for the win. Detroit got goals from Klim Kostin, Lucas Raymond, and Dylan Larkin, and Michael Rasmussen scored twice. Ville Husso made 30 save in the loss.

“When we got our first goal, we knew we were going to come back. That’s a great feeling to have. We just played hockey, we played a really good game today,” said Fabian Zetterlund after the game. Sharks Head Coach David Quinn described the ups and downs of the game:

“I didn’t feel like we were playing like we should be down four-nothing. But, you know, a couple goals, quick hitters from the point by them. It was real disappointing, Then, obviously just to turn it on, to score two huge short-handed goals and really a third, when you think about it, the one when Vlasic comes out of the box and makes a hell of a pass.”

At the end of the first period, the game was scoreless but the shots were 14-7 Sharks. But it was Detroit that scored first, midway through the second period. Chasing down the puck as it drifted towards the net right off the face-off, Klim Kostin fought through Mario Ferraro to tap the puck under Mackenzie Blackwood’s pad. That was Detroit’s 11th shot of the game.

A few minutes later, Michael Rasmussen went on a tear. First, he tipped one in off a blue line shot from Daniel Sprong. Seconds later, he tipped one in from a similar shot from Ben Chiarot. Andrew Copp got a secondary assist on that one.

Lucas Raymond scored another for Detroit with a wrist shot, making it three goals in 49 seconds of playing time. Assists went to Ben Chiarot and Robby Fabbri.

The Sharks pulled Blackwood after that and put Kaapo Kahkonen in goal.

Tomas Hertl stopped the bleeding for the Sharks with a short handed goal at 14:08. He carried the puck through the neutral zone and in, then faked a pass and shot the puck under the goaltender. Assists went to William Eklund and Jan Rutta. That was the first short-handed goal of the season for the Sharks.

Fabian Zetterlund decided to try one of those too, and made it 4-2 with a second short-handed goal during the same penalty kill. It was Zetterlund’s first career short-handed goal. Assists went to Jan Rutta and Mikael Granlund.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic exited the penalty box where he had watched his team score twice. Soon enough, he assisted on Nico Sturm’s goal to make it 4-3. Kyle Burroughs got a secondary assist.

Sturm finished the comeback with a second goal, tying the game at 19:37. Assists went to Justin Bailey and Kevin Labanc.

At the end of the second, the shot count was 23-22 Detroit.

Dylan Larkin broke the tie at 13:20 of the third period. The Red Wings outnumbered the Sharks skating into the zone and after a few passes to mix things up, Larkin snapped the puck past Kahkonen. Assists went to Raymond and Fabbri.

With almost three minutes left in regulation, the Sharks pulled Kahkonen for an extra skater. It paid off, despite some close calls with Detroit circling the empty net. Finally, with 1:29 left, Tomas Hertl scored in a scramble at the side of the Detroit net. Granlund shot the puck into the backboards and it rebounded perfectly to Hertl for the shot. Assists went to Granlund and Alexander Barabanov.

Mikael Granlund scored the game winner 35 seconds into overtime. Zetterlund broke away after Larkin fell in the neutral zone, then made the pass to Granlund for a snap shot.

Neither team scored a power play goal, but each team had two opportunities. The final shot count was 36-31 Sharks. In the face-off circle, the Sharks won just 39.1% of the draws.

The Sharks next play on Sunday in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights at 7:00 PM PT.

Sharks Defeat Canucks 4-3, Granlund Scores Highlight Goal

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San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) is congratulated by defenseman Mike Ferraro (38) and left wing Fabian Zetterlund (20) and defenseman Calen Addison (33) after scoring against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 at SAP Center on Saturday. Ty Emberson, Fabian Zetterlund, Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman scored for the Sharks and Kaapo Kahkonen made 32 saves for the win. Filip Hronek and Brock Boeser scored for the Canucks and Casey DeSmith made 18 saves in the loss.

It was the Sharks’ fourth win of the season. After the game, Sharks defenseman Calen Addison said: “Obviously we played a real complete game tonight, I think we should have won last night too. So, obviously it’s huge for our group and a win is huge for confidence.”

The Sharks and their goaltender, Kaapo Kahkonen did not give up a goal at even strength Saturday. With their defense firmed up, their offense took on new life. Sharks Head Coach David Quinn said: “We’re looking different, right? We’re looking more cohesive, we’re playing faster, moving pucks, but, spending time in the o-zone feels good.”

Early in the first, Vancouver’s Sam Lafferty put the puck in the net but the goal was called back for goaltender interference. Lafferty’s skate connected with Kahkonen’s as the goaltender rushed back into the blue paint after playing the puck behind the net. As a result, Kahkonen fell before he could get in position.

After that close call, Ty Emberson scored the first goal of the game at 9:58. His slapshot off a Hertl pass was his first in the NHL and the first goal from a Sharks defenseman this season. Assists went to Hertl and Mike Hoffman.

Filip Hronek tied the game at 15:37 with a power play goal. The Canucks’ fourth-ranked power play held the zone and the puck for the full minute that it took them to score. Hronek’s shot went under Kahkonen off a cross-ice pass. Assists went to J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes.

Fabian Zetterlund made it 2-1 Sharks at 14:05 of the second period with a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle. Tomas Hertl found him with a quick pass from below the goal line after carrying the puck behind the net.

Brock Boeser tied it up again with a power play goal in the final seconds of the period. A rebound from Miller’s shot went right to Boeser for a shot over the goaltender. Assists went to Miller and Hronek.

The Sharks took the lead back with their first shot of the third period just 22 seconds in. The teams were skating four-on-four during a penalty carry-over from the second period. Mikael Granlund carried the puck end-to-end, right up the middle of the ice, weaving his way through the Vancouver defense. He made it to the net for a move worthy of a shoot-out. It was his first goal as a Shark. Assists went to Calen Addison and Mario Ferraro.

Mike Hoffman padded the lead with a power play goal at 1:48. The teams were playing four-on-three. Granlund shot the puck to the net for a deflection. The deflection did not work but Hoffman swept it in with a second try. Assists went to Granlund and Addison.

With 3:11 left in the third, the Canucks pulled their goaltender for an extra skater. Brock Boeser was able to score with a quick shot through traffic. Assists went to Miller (his third of the game) and Elias Pettersson.

In the final minutes of the game, Nico Sturm blocked a shot, had some trouble getting off the ice (though he managed a shot at the empty net on his way) and had to go to the dressing room.

The shots were close in the first period, 10-9 Sharks, but tilted to Vancouver thereafter, ending at 34-22 Canucks. The Sharks had just one power play to the Canucks’ four. Their penalty kill went 2/4 against the proficient Vancouver power play.

The Sharks next play on Monday at 7:30 PM PT at home against the visiting Washington Capitals.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks prepare for opener with Golden Knights on Tue Oct 17th at SAP

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Los Angeles Kings left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) and San Jose Sharks Kyle Burroughs mix it up in the third period at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thu Oct 5, 2023 (still photo by the San Jose Sharks)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks came up a goal short to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in their final pre season game in overtime 4-3. The Sharks got goal help from Alexander Barabanov, Mike Hoffman and Thomas Bordeleau.

#2 The Sharks in the first period, Mikael Granlund impressed forechecking the Kings Drew Doughty and stole the puck and dished it off to William Eklund but Eklund’s shot was turned away by Kings goaltender Phoenix Copley.

#3 Also in first period action the Kings Adrian Kempe got behind the Sharks Bordeleau and got a pass off. Bordeleau went to block the pass instead of going in for Kempe and Matt Benning got on Kempe but the skill set of Bordeleau trying to block was impressive.

#4 Bordeleau scored twice and his goal coming in the third period, as Eklund passed to Bordeleau as Eklund was on the same skate speed with Bordeleau who beat Copely in a strike that lit the lamp.

#5 Sharks open up the regular season on Thu Oct 12 at SAP Center in San Jose against the NHL Champions Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks who beat the Knights on Tuesday is not an indicator as both teams were using their bench, free agents, and trying to see who will make the final roster cuts. Opening night will be a true test for San Jose against Vegas.

Join Mary Lisa for the SJ Sharks podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. This is Mary Lisa’s 11th year covering Sharks hockey and will be doing the Sharks road games for 2023-24.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Grier expects lots from forwards in upcoming season

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San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier is looking forward to seeing the success of the forwards in the 2023-24 Sharks rebuild (AP file photo)

On the San Jose Sharaks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Nico Sturm, Matt Benning, Luke Kunin, Jan Rutta, Kyle Burroughs, Givani Smith, talk about how general manager Mike Greir and head coach David Quinn looks forward to their contribution as pre season starts on Sun Sep 24 at SAP Center.

#2 Mikael Granlund, Mike Hoffman, and Anthony Duclair, all struggled last season but have the capability to make the Sharks strong at the forward position.

#3 Talk about the development of the future as Grier and Quinn look forward to see what William Eklund can bring his offensive shooting.

#4 Grier said that he wants this team to be gritty, fast paced, competitive and in your face and he feels the Sharks have laid out the ground work for that.

#5 The Sharks open pre season Sun Sep 24 against the Vegas Golden Knights you just never know what to expect from when the Sharks meet up with the Knights who are expected to be a strong competitor during the regular season.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks podcast contributor and does NHL hockey podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com