The Sharks’ bench rose as 7’1″ Alexander Karmanov stepped in.
Players stood together along the boards, watching as the young defenseman dropped the gloves after a moment on the ice. It was one of several times San Jose players responded for each other throughout the night.
The game was only an exhibition, but the message was immediate. The Sharks were going to play for one another.
The Sharks’ Rookie Faceoff opener game against the Los Angeles Kings at Tech CU Arena on Saturday was centered around a team finding its identity together, as young players competed for attention while showing how they would respond when teammates needed them. The game gave San Jose an early opportunity to establish its style of play, with physicality, communication and support for one another becoming central to the night.
The Sharks are using this tournament to establish the foundation for the Barracuda/Sharks season, making the way players respond to one another very important. With roster spots still being decided, how the younger players handle the pace, physicality and expectations of playing together can shape who earns a place with the team.
The Sharks found their footing early.
Filip Bystedt opened the scoring in the first period, getting San Jose on the board before Carson Wetsch and Andre Gasseau scored less than a minute apart. Gasseau added another before the period ended, giving the Sharks a 4-1 lead heading into the intermission.
San Jose continued to control the game in the second. Wetsch scored his second of the night on the power play, extending the lead to four.
The third period brought more of the same. Ivar Stenberg scored twice in the span of 25 seconds, with Michael Misa assisting on both goals. Pavel Martinu later added a power-play goal to finish the scoring.
The Sharks spread the offense throughout the lineup, but the third line of Gasseau, Jake Gustafson and Wetsch stood out for its ability to get to the net and play through contact. Head Coach John McCarthy pointed to that line’s ability to play “on the inside” as a reason for its success.
Postgame
The game’s physicality brought the Sharks’ culture to the forefront. Players stepped in for one another throughout the night, with multiple fights breaking out as the game progressed. For head coach John McCarthy, the response from his team was just as important as the result.
“I thought guys got involved when they needed to get involved,” he said. “And everybody stuck in there together.”
That mentality was also visible from the third line. Gasseau, Gustafson and Wetsch found success by getting to the net and playing in the difficult areas of the ice, a style McCarthy said gave the line opportunities throughout the game.
“They were good,” McCarthy said. “I thought they had success because they got to the hard areas, got to the net.”
Gustafson brought another element to the line. McCarthy pointed to his experience and physicality, saying he “plays the game the right way” and brings leadership qualities from his time in junior hockey.
For Wetsch, the game showed some of the growth McCarthy has seen since his last training camp. His hands looked more comfortable in tight areas while still maintaining the straight-line style that has become part of his game.
“I thought his hands looked a little better, making some plays in tight areas,” McCarthy said.
Quentin Musty fought Jared Woolley in the third period, while Karmanov also dropped the gloves after an incident on the ice. McCarthy said he does not want Musty fighting too often, but recognized what the moment showed.
“It does show that he’s committed to standing out, trying to do something to get attention,” McCarthy said. “So good on him for doing it.”
