Thursday night, the Sharks won a sloppy and stressful game. Tonight, the Sharks won a tidy and stressful game. The first San Jose shootout of the season went seven rounds and ended with a Timo Meier game-winner.
The Sharks started strong and showed great movement on their first power-play opportunity of the game. Logan Couture nearly put the Sharks ahead in the last quarter of the period.
Their other power plays weren’t as neat, with the second man-advantage of the first period somehow finding Martin Jones scrambling to make a save from outside his net. The Sharks finished 0-for-4 on the power play.
The Predators scored first on a single-man effort by Filip Forsberg. Erik Karlsson did all he could to defend Forsberg, but Forsberg powered through. The good news is, that was the only time the Predators got a puck past Martin Jones.
Tomas Hertl scored just past the five-minute mark of the final period to tie the period, and the Sharks held tight for the final 15 minutes to get overtime.
The Sharks dominated overtime until the final minute and a half, when the Predators were awarded a power play. The Sharks put together their best penalty kill of the night to reach a shootout.
Timo Meier finished the night in the bottom of the seventh round of the shootout. He kept it pretty simple and found success.
The Sharks are suddenly trending in the right direction, and quickly. Their next game is Tuesday against Edmonton at 7:30 p.m.
Good evening everybody, I’m joining you all after a full day of watching sports. One might think it’s my job.
First Period
15:53: After spending pretty much the first couple minutes in their own half of the ice, the Sharks have been in the Nashville zone for about a minute. Tomas Hertl originally carried the puck into the offensive zone.
13:49: Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier work the puck in but the timing isn’t quite right. Rather than a smooth exchange, the pass almost gets claimed by a Predator. Sharks still get the shot on goal though.
10:39: Brent Burns gets sent off for boarding Mikael Granlund behind Martin Jones’ net. Granlund doesn’t appear to be injured, which is good news.
8:36: Marcus Sorensen lays out to block the final shot of the Predators’ power play. Sharks killers couldn’t get a clear in the final 45 seconds or so, but they didn’t get scored on.
6:30: Sharks will go on the power play! Dan Hamhuis tripped an old man Joe Thornton.
5:40: I really liked the movement leading up to that Couture chance.
4:17: The Predators put too many men on the ice before our most recent commercial break. Sharks have another power play chance.
2:42: Hey, why was Martin Jones sprawled out of the net on the Sharks’ own power play? That is bad.
END FIRST: Sharks 0, Predators 0
The Sharks started the period well, had a mediocre couple minutes in the middle of the period, and finished the period strong. There were two Sharks power plays, and the first one was much better than the last one.
Second Period
15:55: Tomas Hertl reaches out for the puck and ends up tripping Dante Fabbro. Predators power play.
14:50: The Sharks get a 3-on-2 but just hold on too long.
13:50: The Sharks try to spring the puck to Hertl as he comes out of the box but it’s just a body-length ahead of him.
10:40: After the Sharks keep the puck in the zone for about two minutes, Hertl has to retreat to neutral ice and Rocco Grimaldi, the only fresh Predator, rushes the other way. Martin Jones makes the save.
5:16: Filip Forsberg keeps control of the puck against Erik Karlsson coming in the left side. He scores despite Karlsson’s attempt to swipe the puck away.
4:49: The Sharks go to a power play.
1:14: Evander Kane’s shot goes up Dante Fabbro’s own stick into his face.
END SECOND: Sharks 0, Predators 1
Ain’t that just the way. The Sharks are playing better than I’ve seen them perform in awhile and they still get scored on first. The power play in that period didn’t impress me as much as the Sharks’ first one of the night.
Third Period
14:38: Tomas Hertl, whose name keeps coming up tonight, scores to tie the game. His tip attempt was stopped, but he gets the rebound off Jusse Saros.
11:08: Kevin Labanc, who I hadn’t even thought about until this moment, takes a hooking penalty.
6:16: The blade of Forsberg’s stick went into the gap in Marcus Sorensen’s skate. That’s definitely tripping. Hertl nearly scored on the delayed penalty possession.
END REGULATION: Sharks 1, Predators 1
The Sharks gain a point and officially had a better defensive effort than they did on Thursday.
Overtime
3:53: Martin Jones denies Filip Forsberg.
1:31: Erik Karlsson, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl have all had chances to end the game. Instead, Kane takes a hooking penalty. Sharks will be shorthanded until the game ends.
END OVERTIME: Sharks 1, Predators 1
First shootout of the season for the Sharks. They’ll have the Predators shoot first.
Shootout
Round 1: Matt Duchene no. Kevin Labanc no. Puck went too high.
Round 2: Ryan Ellis no. Martin Jones makes the save with his left toe. Logan Couture no. No deke, just a shot that Saros kicked away.
Round 3: Filip Forsberg no. Tomas Hertl no.
Round 4: Kyle Turris no. Erik Karlsson pipe.
Round 5: Ryan Johansen no. Slowed waaay down and lost it trying to go for a sudden shot. Evander Kane no.
Round 6: Nick Bonino-no. Brent Burns no.
Round 7: Rocco Grimaldi no. Timo Meier YES!
FINAL SCORE: Sharks 2, Predators 1
Pregame
The San Jose Sharks are not entirely themselves again. Yes, they’ve won two in a row, but both of those wins have been too close for comfort. The Chicago Blackhawks tried to execute whatever hockey’s version of a two-minute drill is with two quick goals in the final minutes of the third period, but Timo Meier bailed the Sharks out with an empty net goal. Then on Thursday night, what should have been a smooth win for the Sharks turned into an absolute nightmare, as the Sharks nearly blew a 6-2 lead in the third period.
Meanwhile, their opponents tonight, the Nashville Predators, have been solid this season, but got absolutely embarrassed on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing the dynamic Avalanche offense to score nine goals. If you’ll believe it, there are goaltenders who have been statistically worse than Martin Jones and Aaron Dell this year, and one of them is who the Predators are projected to start tonight, Jusse Saros. He has a save percentage of .879 and a GAA of 3.98.
I’d prepare for an offensive bloodbath if I were you. Tonight should be interesting as the Sharks try to prove their worth against a solid opponent.
Lines
Sharks
Projected lines for #SJSharks as they take on some cats, we’ve never been 100% clear on why they aren’t the Sabertooths or something like that. You know what a good team name is? The Fighting Mongooses. Also, Ferraro is a game time decision. pic.twitter.com/OaGjfkMf0f
— Nothing to Fear the Fin (@fearthefin) November 9, 2019
Expected scratches: Lukas Radil, Dalton Prout
Injured reserve: Jacob Middleton (shoulder)
Predators (via NHL.com)
Filip Forsberg — Ryan Johansen — Viktor Arvidsson
Calle Jarnkrok — Kyle Turris — Matt Duchene
Rocco Grimaldi — Nick Bonino — Craig Smith
Austin Watson — Colton Sissons — Mikael Granlund
Roman Josi — Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm — Dante Fabbro
Dan Hamhuis — Yannick Weber
Jusse Saros
Pekka Rinne
Expected scratches: Miikka Salomaki, Matt Irwin
Where to Watch
Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 p.m Pacific/10:30 p.m Eastern from the Shark Tank. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports California in the Bay Area and FOX Sports Tennessee in the Nashville area. Radio coverage in the Bay Area will be on 98.5 KFOX and can also be streamed from the Sharks app.
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