Sharks Finish Road Trip With Shootout Loss to Penguins
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
For the second time this season, the Sharks and the Penguins went to a shootout to resolve a tied score. This time, the Penguins prevailed, jumping over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Sharks earned a single point but despite having a four on three power play for most of overtime, they could not grab the extra point that they urgently needed to keep fighting for a playoff spot. On the bright side, Al Stalock was featured in the NBC save of the game. Stalock was starting the second of back to back games, after playing Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The shootout winner was scored by Pittsburgh’s David Perron. Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz also scored for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves on 32 shots for the win. Ben Smith and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks and Al Stalock made 31 saves on 33 shots for the Sharks. (more…)
Sharks Start Strong Again, Win 3-2 in Philly
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
The San Jose Sharks lost two defensemen and had to go to a shootout after outshooting the Philadelphia Flyers 44-18, but they won 3-2. The shootout winner was scored by Brent Burns. Matt Irwin and Joe Pavelski scored the regulation goals for the Sharks, while Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux scored for the Flyers. Goaltender Al Stalock made 16 saves on 18 shots from the win, while Steve Mason made 42 saves on 44 shots for the Flyers.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic sustained a lower body injury during the first period and is not expected to play in Pittsburgh. Scott Hannan was also injured later in the game and is also likely to be out Sunday. Of finishing the game after so many injuries, head coach Todd McLellan said:
When you get to four, it’s pretty easy, you just keep saying “next.” You know, at five, which happened fairly early in the game, I thought our D did a really good job and our forwards protected them. We played enough in the offensive zone to not have them too taxed in our end. Where we ran into trouble is a little bit on the penalty kill against a very good power play but we managed the game well once they got hurt.
What Are The Sharks Doing Now?
What are the Sharks doing now? It looks like the same thing they have been doing all season but I still don’t know what it is.
Andrew Desjardins, Tyler Kennedy and James Sheppard are all going to the Stanley Cup playoffs without the San Jose Sharks. Desi will play with the Blackhawks, Kennedy with the Islanders, and Sheppard was traded to the Rangers. Others won’t be in the playoffs but at least they are seeing NHL ice time– without the Sharks. Freddie Hamilton and Tye McGinn landed with the Colorado Avalanche and the Arizona Coyotes respectively. McGinn’s move might have been an “oops,” since he was claimed off of waivers when the Sharks tried to send him down to the AHL. Hamilton was traded fair and square. (more…)
Sharks Fall 2-0 in Montreal
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
It took the Montreal Canadiens four games but they finally scored against the San Jose Sharks. It may have been the worst possible time for them to do that, as far as the Sharks are concerned, but the Sharks can not say they did not put a strong effort into the game. Montreal Candiens goalie Carey Price was trying to catch the Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury’s league leading nine shutouts on the season. Montreal broke their Shark shutout streak at 18:46 of the first period, and Price caught Fleury with the 2-0 win over the Sharks. It was a well played game all around, with neither team clearly dominating the other. Montreal goals were scored by Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher. Except for how calamitous any loss is for the Sharks right now, it is worth noting that San Jose played a very good road game. (more…)
Sharks Fall to Blackhawks 6-2
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks lost to the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 6-2 on Saturday afternoon. Losing to one of the top teams in the league is not the worst thing a team can do but the Sharks cannot afford to give up any point if they have any hope of making the post season. The game winner was scored by Brandon Saad for Chicago, with Patrick Sharp chipping in with two, Bryan Bickell, Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa scoring for the balance. Corey Crawford made 33 saves on 35 Sharks shots. Sharks goals were scored by Melker Karlsson and Joe Thornton, with Antti Niemi making 24 saves on 29 Chicago shots.
The Sharks played well through the first 40 minutes, but could not take the lead over Chicago. After the game, Joe Thornton said: (more…)
Sharks Trade Sheppard, Waive McGinn
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
The San Jose Sharks have traded forward James Sheppard to the New York Rangers for a 4th round pick in 2016. The Sharks acquired Sheppard in 2011 from the Minnesota Wild. After a lengthy recovery from a knee injury sustained before coming to the Sharks, Sheppard gradually became a regular in the lineup, playing 67 games last season and 57 this season. He had 5 goals, 16 points this season and was -3 and 50% in the faceoff circle.
(more…)
Senators Hand Sharks 8th Home Loss
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
SAN JOSE- A 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators was not the game the Sharks were looking for. Home is where the heart is, or maybe it’s just where they have to let you in when you come knocking. In any case, home has not been a very lucky place for the Sharks. After seven straight losses, the Sharks were looking for their first home win in February. They finished the month with not one home win. (more…)
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