Quick bites: Sharks show teeth but no bite

It was a gritty, determined effort by the San Jose Sharks to close out 2023, but it wasn’t enough to end the losing streak. Despite putting it all on the line, San Jose couldn’t beat one of the elite teams in the NHL. The Sharks fell to the Colorado Avalanche by a final score of 3-1, losing all three games of the season series.

Even though the score was relatively close (the third goal was an empty netter near the close of the third period), the actual game was far from it. Colorado dominated the game from start to finish and the Sharks often looked like they were holding on for their dear lives.

It’s understandable, considering the skill disparity at virtually all levels of play.

Kahkonen kept it close

The saving grace for the Sharks was the play of Kaapo Kahkonen. Like Mackenzie Blackwood did in the first game of the season series between these two teams, Kahkonen was there to bail the Sharks out when the Avs’ skill showed through. Kahkonen stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced last night. His .938 save percentage was well deserved, considering that Natural Stat Trick had him at 3.24 expected goals against.

The only two goals Kahkonen allowed were when the Avalanche had a man advantage. On the power play goal, the entire Sharks team was out-skilled.

Mikko gets us on the board!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/qEIfxfIhK6

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 1, 2024

Nathan Mackinnon threaded that pass through to Mikko Rantanen, who fired it so quickly there was nothing Kahkonen could do.

On the second goal of the night, Valeri Nichushkin’s goal, you would have liked to see the Sharks spread out a bit better. There was a delayed penalty, so the Avalanche goalie was out of the net and there was an extra attacker on the ice. Just the same, it should not have been so easy for Nichushkin to receive that pass and one-time it to beat Kahkonen.

That's 17 for Big Val this season!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/HlKHo6v5SE

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 1, 2024

All in all, Kahkonen did what he needed to do to give the Sharks a chance to win the game, which is about all the Sharks can hope for from a goaltender at this point in the season.

Shots on goal are a problem

The Sharks did not uphold their end of the bargain as a group.

Shots on goal are once again a problem for this group, especially through this latest eight-game losing streak. San Jose had just 11 shots on goal through the entire game. It’s amazing that the team went into the third period tied at one, considering that the shots were 21-9 in favor of the Avalanche through two periods.

In the past eight games, the Sharks have had two games where the shots on goal were fewer than 20. In only one game did the shots on goal break the 30 shots plateau (on Dec. 21 vs. the Arizona Coyotes, the Sharks had 31 shots on goal).

It sounds stupid to say, but if the Sharks are going to break out of this latest losing streak, they’re going to need to start shooting more. After all, it’s hard to score if you don’t put the puck on net.

MacKinnon was dialed in

Finally, since this is the last time we’ll see Nathan MacKinnon “in person” this season, we can take a minute to appreciate the player that he is. Unlike some NHL stars, MacKinnon is a physical player with a nasty side. He’s not afraid to hit and when he does, he can make it hurt.

MacKinnon’s hit on Mario Ferraro in the first period knocked the young defenseman out of the game.

Haven’t seen Ferraro return since the hit by MacKinnon. Thrun and Rutta have each taken a shift filling in along side Emberson in the mean time. #SJSharks https://t.co/jma7U2eQpG pic.twitter.com/ws0SRpSGHD

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) January 1, 2024

It was a clean hit and looked like something both players should have been able to shake off, but Ferraro immediately went to the bench and did not return to the game. It’s a tough loss for San Jose, which has seen the blueline battered and bruised. I was really looking forward to seeing the new, revamped defense play together, especially considering how much it has evolved since even the start of the season. But not tonight.

I liked the Sharks’ response to the hit as well. Mikael Granlund led the way, giving as good as he got with MacKinnon. The pair traded crosschecks shortly after the hit on Ferraro, especially when it was apparent that the defenseman was headed to the lockerroom. Later in the game, MacKinnon and Ty Emberson got into a bit of a battle as well. Other Sharks picked up the fight with other opposing players as well.

But back to MacKinnon, who in addition to delivering a clean hit on Ferraro, also notched assists on two of the Avalanche’s three goals. Not a bad night for a guy who has scored 135 points in 2023.

Highlight

Tomas Hertl with a pretty power play goal in the 700th game of his career. Through 700 games, Hertl has 478 points (216 G, 262 A). Between Hertl and Granlund, they make this stuff look easy.

Hertl ties it ❗❗ pic.twitter.com/o0yDHVefcO

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 1, 2024