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Quick bites: Add that one to the win column!

Posted on by Erika Towne

The San Jose Sharks have snapped the team’s losing streak, getting that much needed sigh of relief that comes with finally winning a game. It looked like the Sharks were on the same page in the 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. While it wasn’t pretty for all 60 minutes, it was pretty enough to get the W.

Unlike many of the other games in this losing streak, the Sharks weren’t just lucky, but also good. If you look at Natural Stat Trick’s gameflow chart, you see that for large chunks of the game, the Sharks controlled puck possession and the pace of the game.

Most importantly, the play at even strength made the difference for the Sharks in this game.

5-on-5 play made the difference

While we could use this time to bemoan how the Sharks’ power play has lost some of its edge — the Sharks went 0-for-3 on the man advantage — we choose to use this moment to celebrate the play 5-on-5 instead. The Sharks outshot the Canadiens 31-27 at even strength and, more importantly, outscored the Canadiens 3-1.

The second period was especially good for San Jose. That’s when the team’s Corsi was 71.43% at 5-on-5, leading to 15 shots on net.

Even when the Sharks didn’t execute perfectly, the team got the bounces. Luke Kunin’s goal to break open the scoring was a good example of that.

A strong forecheck by Justin Bailey and a lucky bounce to Kunin, who was driving to the front of the net, and the Sharks were suddenly up 1-0. Instead of sitting back, the Sharks’ smelled a win in the water. The team withstood the pushback by the Canadiens and managed to get that ever important second goal before the period was through.

At even strength, the Sharks played the better game last night.

Finally winning one for Blackwood

Give credit to Mackenzie Blackwood, who continues to guard the net with gusto, even when the team in front of him has not helped out. Blackwood kept the Sharks in the game early, making a big save on a Josh Anderson breakaway to keep the score at 1-0 Sharks.

And, when the Sharks led 3-1 in the third period, Blackwood ensured it stayed that way—this time, stopping Nick Suzuki, Montreal’s leading scorer, who had a breakaway of his own.

Blackwood saved the best save for last. In the game’s waning seconds, when Montreal had its goaltender pulled, Blackwood stopped Cole Caufield to secure the win.

It was another great performance by Blackwood, who finally received the support from his teammates on the scoreboard. This was Blackwood’s first road win of the season.

Hoffman had extra jump against his former team

Mike Hoffman has received a lot of criticism this season, some of it from this site, but the forward was one of the best Sharks players on the ice against his former team. As though Hoffman wanted to show the Canadien fans what they gave up, he was all over the ice last night. His Corsi for at 5-on-5 play was 66.67% and it was even better when you factor in his play on the man advantage.

While he did not register a point, Hoffman had three shots on goal and helped keep the offensive momentum going for the Sharks. He was extremely visible on the ice despite playing just over 10 minutes.

Highlight: San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens

While I really liked the goal by Fabian Zetterlund because of the silky smooth pass by Tomas Hertl that fooled everyone, the highlight of the night is going to Nikita Okhotiuk, who scored his first goal in a teal uniform.

Mikael Granlund did a great job of holding onto the puck and catching Okhotiuk sneaking in for the easy tap-in goal.

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