Sharks Are Eliminated From Playoffs + Season Wrap

The Sharks were fully entrenched and embattled in a highly contested four-game series against the Colorado Avalanche, and there was no wavering change in game two of the series. Alexander Barabanov has been nothing short of absolute gold for the Sharks since he came up, who quickly pots his second goal of the season from Hertl and Karlsson just past four minutes gone in the first, 1-0 Sharks. Sharks make their best effort to waiver the Colorado onslaught but start the falter about 7 minutes gone in the second, giving up the following three unanswered Colorado goals, 3-1 Avalanche. Almost midway through the third, while on the Avalanche powerplay, Evander Kane snags a turnover at mid-ice that he puts on net that and Logan Couture cleans up in front of the net for the Sharks score, 3-2 Avs. Five minutes later, Miko Rantanen tips in another Colorado goal. A little over 2 minutes later, Tomas Hertl attempts to mount a Sharks comeback on a deflected shot that goes in, but time expires, Sharks lose 4-3.

Any inkling of playoff hope lies in the balance for the remainder of the season. In game three of the four-game series against Colorado, the Sharks saw more of the same see-saw play as in game three. Evander Kane gets the Sharks on the board almost four minutes in when he cleans up Alexander Barabanov's shot out front to give the Sharks the 1-0 early lead. Two minutes later, Nathan McKinnon off the faceoff who feeds Miko Rantanen to tie the game at 1. Moments into the second period, the Avalanche turn the puck over in their defensive zone, and Hertl skates in and puts it home, 2-1 Sharks. Six minutes or so later, Hertl feeds Kane on the breakaway, adding to the Sharks lead, 3-1. A few minutes before the first ends, Colorado makes it 3-2 on a Nichushkin wrist shot. Three minutes into the third period, Timo Meier makes the score 4-2 when he scores a highlight-reel worthy goal, which would prove to be the last goal the Sharks score of the night. Sharks again prove their inability to hold the lead against the caliber of present company, for Colorado goes on a tear, scoring the following three unanswered goals ultimately surrendering the game-winner in overtime. Sharks lose 5-4 and are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

In the fourth and final game of the Colorado series, as the Sharks season winds down, they find themselves playing with more freedom and without the weight of playoff expectations and all the scrutiny that comes with that—just playing the game that they're accustomed to. After an uneventful opening period and half the second, Colorado gets on the board with two quick strikes starting at 15:49 and then again at 18:18 for the 2-0 Avalanche advantage. As Colorado aimed to escape the second period unscathed, Barabanov put a breakaway pass onto Evander Kane's stick, who dishes it over to Hertl, scoring the first of his two goals in his 500th career game with 13 seconds remaining in the second period, 2-1 Colorado. Then again, in the third, without even three minutes gone by, Kane throws it out front to Knyzhov and then to Hertl, who puts it home as he stumbles to the ice to tie the game at 2-2. Around 10 minutes left in regulation, Erik Karlsson puts the Sharks ahead when he catches a dish across the point from Kane, and this time the Sharks managed to weather the Avalanche offense down the stretch, getting a much-needed W in the final meeting between the two teams. Colorado blows the two-goal lead. Sharks win 3-2!

When the Sharks welcomed the Arizona Coyotes to the SAP Center for the start of their final two-game series of the season and a game for all intents and purposes, I was supposed to be at but couldn't make it. The Sharks came out with considerable step, perhaps a high off snagging a game against Colorado, who knows. But the Sharks get the scoring started with his little less than four minutes left in the first period when Erik Karlsson rockets in a wrister from beyond that beats Kuemper stick side, 1-0 Sharks. Sam Jose makes it 2-0 with three and a half minutes gone in the second when Timo Meier scores on a two-on-one breakaway, saying one over Kuemper's left shoulder. Arizona mounts the comeback scoring the following four unanswered goals to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Sharks doomed themselves on breakaways and lack of defensive presence in front of the net.

As they continue down the stretch and attempt to swallow their pride and play meaningful hockey with an emphasis on the youth movement, the Sharks attempt to salvage the last remaining game of the season against the Arizona Coyotes. Alexei Melnichuk gets his first start since February 11th, but the Sharks stumble off the get, surrendering the initial goal of the game, a wrist shot with only three and a half gone in regulation, 1-0 Yotes. Sharks respond with an answer three minutes later on a slapshot by Balcers from Chemelevski to tie the game at 1. About 5 minutes later, Arizona breaks the tie on a powerplay goal to put the Totes ahead 2-1. Almost four minutes go by in the first, and once again, San Jose gets the game-tying equalizer from Kevin LeBanc, an unassisted wrist shot, 2-2. Come more than five minutes gone in the second, Timo Meier scores a true power forward's goal when he skates across the crease, putting it past Hill for the 3-2 Sharks advantage. Arizona goes on to score over the following two unanswered goals before trade deadline sensation; Barabanov ties the contest at four in the initial moments of the third period. Still, the coyotes ultimately come away with the victory on a Phil Kessel overtime game-winner. Arizona sweeps the Sharks. Sharks lose another one 5-4.

In the final game of the season for the Sharks, the Vegas Golden Knights aimed to fine-tune their game before the start of the playoffs. The sharks who had been eliminated last week again we're playing for nothing other than pride. Vegas outclasses them in the first period, though, scoring the first six unanswered goals for a 6-0 shutout to end the Sharks 2021 season. Was this the final time we Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns suit up for San Jose? I think the shark showed a lot more promise as a makeshift AHL team this season than they did last season. They obviously had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good things to build on but also a lot of things to work on in the offseason. I expect the Sharks to be a more competitive club going forward. The Sharks finish the season at 21-28-7 with 56 points, good for 7th in the Honda West Division

Sharks Surge but Fall to a Familiar Foe

Fresh off the heels of their 3-2 overtime victory over the St Louis Blues, the Sharks look to make it two in a row for the first time this season when they travel down to Orange County to take on the Ducks at the Honda Center. Tomas Hertl, returning to the ice after a stink on the covid-list, gets the party started making it 1-0. After a spirited, bloody bout featuring combatants Kurtis Gabriel and Nicolas Deslauriers, that really seems to breathe life into this team. Burns feeds Kane for a goal in the 2nd, Karlsson adds a tally of his own in the 3rd, along with Meier, LeBanc, and Handemark, scoring his 1st career NHL goal. Dubnyk is the star of the night with the shut-out on 35 saves. Mission accomplished: the Sharks indeed win two in a row for the first time all season with a 6-0 bludgeoning of the Ducks

In the second game of the series, we saw the Sharks continue their winning ways against the Ducks with a 3-1 victory. In the 1st, Evander Kane kicks off the scoring when he beat Ryan Miller off the rush for the early 1-0 score. Ducks come back early in the 2nd and tie it. Shortly afterward, Ferraro and Hertl combine to feed Lebanc for the 2-1 tally. In the 3rd, there's a scramble for the puck in front of the net when Dylan Gambrell tips it home for his first goal of the season and sends the Sharks off to their first bonafide win streak of the season at 3 games.

The Sharks next traveled to the desert to take on the familiar foe with the Vegas Golden Knights. Behind a rock-solid performance by Marc-Andre Fleury and enabled by a stingy officiating crew, the Knights get off to a 2-0 lead. That was before Timo Meier lights the lamp with 5 minutes left, and the Sharks finally received their first power play of the night with 20 seconds left in the game but unfortunately still come up short in the effort 2-1.

In the second game of the series, we see the Sharks do something that they have not been able to accomplish yet, and that's take a lead a game against Vegas when they went up 3-1. Only to see it quickly evaporate in a 3rd period meltdown with undisciplined and untimely penalties taken by their two top centers on the team, who decided it was time in the game for them to drop their gloves, something they are not accustomed to doing, both were assessed 5-minute fighting majors 3 minutes apart. This is a duty that should have been left to Kurtis Gabriel who was nowhere to be found. Sharks lose 5-4

Valiant Efforts & There's A New Sheriff in San Jose.

In the second game of the series and an attempt to yet again win two consecutive games, the Sharks yet again fall short in the effort in the losing end of 4-0 shutout. I feel Boughner's constant juggling, and changing of lines was partially to blame. Before the game, we saw the Sharks make a roster transaction, sending down 5 players, including Noah Gregor. While also calling up an additional 5 players, including Joachim Blichfeld and goaltender Josef Korenar. In the 3rd period, Blichfeld was assessed a match penalty for his hit on Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and was subsequently given a 2-game suspension.

Up next, the hated Vegas golden knights came to town in a tale of two different games. Vegas goes up 3-0, spelling the end of the night for Martin Jones, who is replaced in net by Devin Dubnyk for San Jose. Newcomer Kurtis Gabriel fights Ryan Reeves, which seems to change the complexion of this game a bit. Brent Burns and Matt Neito add goals of their own, making it 3-2 Vegas. The Knights soon add another tally making it 4-2, but Captain Logan Couture soon adds one of his own, but not to be outdone by Kevin LeBanc scoring the game-tying goal with only 1:07 left in regulation. Max Pacioretty ends it soon in overtime for the 5-4 Vegas victory, but in my opinion, there were a lot of positives to take away from this game.

In the second game in the series against Vegas, the sharks couldn't muster up anything against the goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury. The Sharks drop a frustrating match 4-0 to the Knights, ultimately giving Vegas the series sweep.

In a contest where we see new resident tough guy Kurtis Gabriel drop the gloves with Kyle Clifford early in the 1st for the antics of his goaltender Jordan Binnington the last time the two met. The Blues find the back of the net first, but the Sharks soon after answer with Marc-Edouard Vlasic's first of the season. The Blues go on to add another and go up 2-1 on a powerplay goal. Couture responds with a Sharks powerplay goal of their own, sending it to overtime, where Kane wins it for the teal guys in the extra frame. It's worth noting; Bob Boughner benched Kevin LeBanc late in the 3rd for his part in two separate bad penalties. After the game, Gabriel had resounding words for anyone aspiring to disrespect the Sharks in the future: "Nobody will disrespect this team while I am around and not have to pay up for it."

Sharks Struggle to Win in Regulation

The San Jose Sharks continue to struggle to find consistency and almost exclusively rely on shootouts to find victories in the young season. 

On February 5th, the Sharks strolled into Orange County for a 2-game tilt against the Ducks. In the first game, Nitro sets off the scoring at 6:50 of the 1st, but the Ducks dominated the middle frame, scoring three times. In the 3rd, San Jose came back with three of their own before allowing the Ducks the game-tying goal to force OT. Ultimately Donato and Lebanc score in the shootout to seal the victory. In the second game, Couture scores at 19:48 in the first shift of the game. While Dubnyk is the story all night coming up huge for San Jose, the Sharks ultimately fall 2-1 in the shootout. 

February 9th, we saw the Sharks taxi up to the Staple Center in LA for a 2-game set against the Kings. In game 1, San Jose storms out to take a 2-0 lead with tallies by Meier and Couture. Only to see it evaporate by the Kings scoring the next 3 goals. Kane ties the affair 3-3 with 44 seconds left to force the overtime. With Couture scoring in the shootout to seal the Sharks victory. In game 2, we saw the Kings score early and often. Tomas Hertl added two goals, but the Kings pulled away in the 3rd, scoring the next 3 for a 6-2 lopsided victory. 

It has been 342 days since the Sharks could last call the friendly confines of the SAP Center home. February 13th, the Sharks ended a 12-game road trip to open the season by welcoming the Vegas Golden Knights to the SAP Center for their 2021 home opener! Vegas spoiled the festivities with 3 powerplay goals, all scored with Evander Kane in the box for the Sharks, and came away with the 3-1 win. Erik Karlsson left in the 3rd and did not return with an apparent injury.

On the 15th of February, the Ducks arrived at the Tank and opened up the scoring with a deflection off Mario Ferraro's skate, a tough break for the young defenseman. The Sharks would score the next 3 goals, including the 1st of John Leonard's young career, and hold off the Ducks for the 3-2 regulation win. Something they have struggled mightily to find so far this season.