Quick bites: At least it wasn’t 10

The San Jose Sharks have lost the final game of the season series to the Vancouver Canucks, this time by a score of 7-4. While a vast improvement over the 10-1 drubbing the Sharks took in the first meeting between these two teams, it’s still a tough pill to swallow for a Sharks team that’s now lost five in a row. Admittedly, though, the losses have come in a better fashion than those during the eleven game losing streak to start the season.

From the start, Vancouver was all over San Jose, never underestimating Team Teal.

As you can see from the gameflow chart, the Canucks started strong and continued to build as the game wore on. Even when things plateaued in the third period, and the Sharks showed a little pushback, Vancouver was able to score.

Credit also to Vancouver’s Andrei Kuzmenko, who responded to being healthy scratched for the past two games with a pair of goals. Kuzmenko scored two goals in the first seven minutes of the game, quickly putting the Sharks into a hole that they could never really dig out of. (I realize that the Sharks tied it up by the end of the period, but all that playing from behind really changed the flow of the game.)

Battle of bad goaltending

The Canucks started goaltender Thatcher Demko to ensure the win. Even though Demko let in 4 goals on 25 shots and finished with a .840 save percentage, he outstripped Mackenzie Blackwood in net. Blackwood has put up two poor games in a row for the first time this season and may need the Christmas break to rest and reset for the rest of the season.

Blackwood allowed six goals against the Canucks last night even though Natural Stat Trick places his expected goals against at 2.50. Admittedly, some of the goals were tough breaks for Blackwood; deflections will get you every time, but the entire outing was not a showcase for the Sharks’ presumed netminder of the near future. Six goals on 25 shots is cringeworthy.

It was the second poor outing in a row for Blackwood, who has allowed 12 goals in 55 shots in the past two games.

Super Mario finds his Super Star

Mario Ferraro isn’t the first Sharks defenseman you think of when you’re looking for a goal, but last night, he scored one-third of his season points. Ferraro assisted on three of the Sharks’ goals last night by simply doing the little things the Sharks would like to see from all of its defensemen.

The Duke gets the Sharks on the board 🎯 pic.twitter.com/E5TeDAsAeQ

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 24, 2023

On the Sharks’ first goal, Mikael Granlund’s goal, Ferraro did a good job of winning a board battle in the defensive zone to get the puck to Granlund. That’s all Ferraro needed to do to help push the rush in the other direction.

Hertl stays hot in the Great White North 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tkjz7ziHv3

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 24, 2023

On the second goal, Tomas Hertl’s goal, Ferraro takes a shot from the point.

In both instances, Ferraro is just doing his job. He’s not doing more. He’s not trying to play the hero. All he’s doing is what he’s supposed to do. On the first goal, it’s about getting the puck back. He does that and relies on his forwards to do the rest. On the second goal, he’s shooting. That’s something the Sharks could do more of these days. By simply putting the puck on net, Ferraro creates a rebound that leads directly to a goal.

When players say they need to do what they’re supposed to do and the points will come naturally, this is exactly what they mean.

Jacob MacDonald appreciation section

Let’s give some special attention to Jacob MacDonald, who has taken everything the coaches have handed him in stride and succeeded. For a few nights, he played on defense because the Sharks needed him there. Last night, because of Givani Smith’s injury, he was moved back to forward because the Sharks were light there. In every instance, he’s done what he can to help the team succeed.

MacDonald scored the fourth goal of the night and pulled the Sharks within one goal with plenty of time left in the third period.

MacDonald cuts into the lead, but time is running out for Team Teal ⏰ pic.twitter.com/X1Ra4YJtF9

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 24, 2023

That’s some good work for a guy who was only on the ice for 7:03 of the game. What’s more, it’s his second goal in three games. MacDonald also scored in the game against the Los Angeles Kings, when he was penciled in on defense.

It’s not easy for a player to go back and forth like that from game to game, but MacDonald has done a good job of rolling with the punches and putting in quality work no matter where he lands in the lineup.

Better yet, he’s improving his value come the trade deadline.