The Sharks’ lines got a shuffle, but the defensive woes continue
The San Jose Sharks wrapped up a short two game road trip this past week before a short two game home stand. The results were not exactly what the fans were hoping for.
10/8: St. Louis Blues // W (OT), 3-2
Game two without Captain Macklin Celebrini and again, it was evident. The Sharks offense looked stagnant. The Blues led 1-0 after the first. Around the midway point of the second is where it changed. The Sharks looked much better offensively. Tyler Toffoli was able to score off a rebound to tie the game.
The Blues scored a short-handed goal early in the third, but Collin Graf scored his first of the season shortly after to tie the game. The game did go to overtime.
Sharks fans are starting to see what Ivar Stenberg can do. He may be only a few games into his NHL career, but this young man has the potential to be a special player. In overtime, Stenberg led the Sharks down the ice, drawing multiple defenders. Darnell Nurse took the open ice and Stenberg found him all alone to score the game winner. Three wins this season, all in overtime.
Any fellow San Francisco Giants here remember the “torture” days?
10/10: Edmonton Oilers // L, 3-1
The good news; Celebrini returned in this game. The bad news; the offense looked awful. The Dallas game showed us the offensive issues. This game confirmed them.
Even with Celebrini back, the Sharks could not generate quality scoring chances. He did have the lone goal for San Jose, but there are not many games won 1-0. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky needs to shuffle the lines up.
10/13: Boston Bruins // L, 6-3
Ask and you shall receive. The Sharks lines were shuffled for the game. Mason Marchment skated with Alexander Wennberg and Toffoli, while Igor Chernyshov was moved up to the top line with Celebrini and Will Smith. Kiefer Sherwood was promoted to Michael Misa’s line. Stenberg was also moved to Misa’s line.
The result; a much better looking offense. The Sharks generated a lot of scoring chances. Jacob Trouba scored his first in teal. Stenberg scored his first NHL goal and Celebrini had his second of the season.
The main issue though is the defense. Too many defensive breakdowns led to easy Bruins goals. And maybe one or two goals Yaroslav Askarov would like to have back. The Sharks overhauled the defense in the offseason. So far, it does not look much improved. Nurse was also injured in the third period for the cherry on top.
The Sharks begin a long road trip this evening in Nashville. A lot of players say the best bonding opportunities are on road trips like this. We all saw the chemistry last year’s team had. It would be nice to see something similar this year.
