For eight games this season, San Jose Sharks’ forward Will Smith has seemed to struggle to find his way in the game. While there have been flashes of brilliance, they never seemed to pay off the way most forwards like … on the scoreboard. That all changed in game number nine, when Will Smith scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, to help the Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2.
Will Smith scored the first goal of his NHL career in the first period.
WILL SMITH GOES TOP SHELF FOR HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MraaGZMXri
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 1, 2024
It was great to see the grin on his face, but even more the grin on the players’ faces. They seemed just as happy as he was.
On his second, Will Smith couldn’t cut it any closer than he did going bar down. Even Randy Hahn had to take a minute to reaffirm his initial call that it was a goal for the 19-year-old.
MAKE THAT TWO FOR BIG WILLY STYLE 😤 pic.twitter.com/5ltAZmgxVW
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 1, 2024
Will Smith, with his two goals, including the game-winning goal, was named the first star of the game.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. While the young forward didn’t say much postgame when he spoke to Drew Remenda, that grin on his face seemed to say it all.
"It feels great, about time."
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 1, 2024
Will Smith is all smiles after netting his first two NHL goals tonight 🙌 pic.twitter.com/iP2z64zCGp
Third period was brutal but the Sharks managed
The Sharks managed the play well through the first two periods of the game. Even though San Jose went to the lockerroom down 2-1 after 20 minutes of play, the Sharks had outshot the Blackhawks 12-9 and were about even in scoring chances.
As you can see from Natural Stat Trick’s game flow chart at even-strength, the game was pretty even through the first two periods of play, though the Sharks seemed to take control in the latter part of the second period.
The third period wasn’t great, to say the least, but perhaps it showed that the Sharks really are taking that bend, don’t break mentality to heart. The Blackhawks outshot the Sharks 10-5 in the third frame and had 19 scoring chances compared to the Sharks’ 2 scoring chances.
Just the same, Chicago could not break through. The Sharks blocked shots and cleared pucks. When the puck managed to get through, Mackenzie Blackwood was able to make the stops.
Blackwood finished the night with 26 saves and a .929 save percentage. He was named the second star of the night.
Not great hockey, but exciting
Last season, when the Sharks and the Blackhawks met, it truly was a battle of the bad. The games were brutal to watch, even for die-hard fans of both teams. This season, it’s a different story. While the hockey isn’t ideal, at least it’s exciting.
The Sharks and the Blackhawks went back and forth last night in scoring chances. The Sharks took a slight edge in shots, 29-28, by the end of the night. The Blackhawks took the edge in high-danger scoring chances, registering 16 to the Sharks’ 11.
So, while there were still some mistakes, they were fewer and further between for both teams. What’s more, the hockey was fun to watch.
Neither team is likely to make the playoffs this season, but at least both fan bases have fun hockey to look forward to this season, compared to the sometimes dismal on-ice product that they witnessed last season.
Scoring summary for Sharks vs. Blackhawks Oct. 31, 2024
First Period
6:52 SJS Will Smith from Luke Kunin and Cody Ceci
7:29 CHI Ryan Donato from Ilya Mikheyev and Connor Murphy
8:19 CHI Tyler Bertuzzi from Connor Murphy and Taylor Hall
Second Period
1:30 SJS Alex Wennberg from Fabian Zetterlund and Jake Walman
10:42 SJS Will Smith unassisted on the power play
Third Period
No Goals Scored
