Tuesday’s game was clearly a matchup between two teams that were well aware that their seasons were winding down. The San Jose Sharks started out the scoring with a goal in the first and then another early in the second period. However, the Calgary Flames answered back with a pair of goals of its own, and the game entered the third period tied at two. The game eventually went to overtime and the Flames won 3-2.
Lucky to get a point
Truthfully, the Sharks didn’t even deserve one point with the way the team played. Postgame, Head Coach David Quinn was blunt in saying as much.
When you look at Natural Stat Trick’s Corsi differential for all situations, you can see that while the Sharks hung in there in the first period but midway through the game, the players started reverting to old habits, losing the puck at the offensive blueline, making poor passes and forcing plays. If San Jose had been playing a team with playoff aspirations or even one that had already stamped its ticket to the postseason, this would have been a bloodbath.
All three goals scored against Mackenzie Blackwood were ones where he was left with little support.
On the first goal, there were plenty of teal jerseys in front of the net, but most of them seemed to be watching the puck and unaware of where the guys in red and white were. What resulted was an easy goal for Calgary.
Dazzling ✨ pic.twitter.com/X6pLl1a9cY
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 10, 2024
On the second one, Mikael Granlund had his leg swept out from underneath him, leaving no opportunity to cover Nazem Kadri during the Flames’ power play. Kadri had an easy goal.
No mistake on it 😤 pic.twitter.com/LYw7NOslNT
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 10, 2024
On the third, well, as one Fear the Fin Twitter follower put it, it was a microcosm of the season as a whole. The three Sharks in front of the net actually made it harder, rather than easier for Blackwood to make the save.
Kuzy called game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eMmuR3P0ox
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 10, 2024
Martin Pospisil with another dangerous hit
A trend is developing with the young Flames forward and it is not a good one. Last night, he hit defenseman Calen Addison in a dangerous way that, luckily, did not result in serious injury.
Martin Pospisil is at it again. He takes a two minute boarding penalty #Flames | #SJSharks
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 10, 2024
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/s19wbrroEq
You can argue that Addison should not have turned his back and put himself in a vulnerable position. You may be right. However, Pospisil had plenty of time to adjust his trajectory, his body and his line of attack to not hit Addison square in the numbers. There are also ways that players use their own bodies to lessen the impact of the hit to protect the opposing player. Pospisil did not do anything, especially in a game that means nothing to either team.
After the hit, Pospisil’s body language tells you he knows he did the wrong thing. Yet the 24-year-old has failed to correct behavior and has developed a trend with his hits. Less than a week ago, he was ejected from a game for a hit to the head of the Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrisey. He led with his elbow in that one. It did not lead to a suspension. He injured not one, but two Seattle Kraken players in separate incidents. In one case, no suspension. In the other, he received a three-game suspension.
Pospisil has just 58 NHL games under his belt and already he’s created nearly half a dozen questionable hits. It’s clear from his hit last night, that he has not changed his game enough to prevent dangerous plays from happening.
Highlight of the night Flames at Sharks April 9, 2024
We’re giving the highlight to William Eklund and his silky smooth mitts. It was his goal that got the Sharks on the board first.
Eklund's 16th goal of the season gives the Sharks the lead 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fsrfWwmQRI
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 10, 2024
Jacob MacDonald also scored for the Sharks after a nice takeaway at the offensive blueline from Mike Hoffman.
The Sharks take a quick trip to Seattle to play the Kraken on Thursday before they return home for the final home game of the season on April 13.
