You could tell the San Jose Sharks wanted that win. The way the team came out and jumped all over the Buffalo Sabres in the first period, it looked very much like they were there to win it for Joe Thornton.
The Sharks were good at even strength, outshooting the Sabres at even strength through the first two periods. As you can see from Natural Stat Trick’s Corsi differential at even strength, you can see that the Sharks controlled the pace for most of the game.
It’s even more evident when you look at Natural Stat Trick’s Corsi differential in all situations.
But despite controlling the play for most of the game, the Sharks were simply unable to put that third goal past former Sharks goaltender James Reimer, despite several opportunities to do so.
This save against Macklin Celebrini was especially painful to watch.
James Reimer is just showing off on this save! 😱#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/A4oYpBjy0C
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 24, 2024
Reimer ended the night with a .939 save percentage.
Keep your chin up, Mac
If there was one player on the ice who wanted to win the game for Joe Thornton more than anyone else, it was Celebrini. You could see the weight of the world on the kid’s shoulders every time he had a scoring chance that he missed.
At the end of the game when he couldn’t keep up with a puck skittering towards the empty net, he broke his stick on the post.
Celebrini breaks his stick at the empty-netter pic.twitter.com/Os05tzWdUZ
— percy 🦈 (@percydept) November 24, 2024
None of this is Celebrini’s fault. He’s an 18-year-old kid playing in his 11th NHL game of all time. He’s on a team that is not built to win. Losing is going to happen. But the kid looked like if he had just scored one more goal, or made one more play, the team would have won it. While that might be true, now’s not the time to worry about it.
Hopefully, Celebrini had guys in the lockerroom and Jumbo at home working him through it. It’s a game like this where he needs support. Hopefully, he can keep that infectious grin on his face and put this game behind him moving forward.
Scoring summary for Sabres at Sharks Nov. 23.2024
First Period
9:59 SJS Fabian Zetterlund from Jake Walman and William Eklund
11:03 BUF Peyton Krebs from Bowen Byram
Second Period
4:07 SJS Luke Kunin from Tyler Toffoli and Alex Wennberg
Third Period
2:07 BUF Dylan Cozens from Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram
5:27 BUF Alex Tuch shorthanded and unassisted
19:59 BUF Rasmus Dahlin empty net unassisted
