Yaroslav Askarov BOUNCES BACK Against Colorado After Kings Disaster | Sharks Win THREE of Last Four

Yaroslav Askarov BOUNCES BACK Against Colorado After Kings Disaster | Sharks Win THREE of Last Four

The Sharks, maybe they’re starting to figure things out. You’re Locked on Sharks, your daily podcast on the San Jose Sharks, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to Locked On Sharks, the premier hockey podcast covering your favorite team in the Bay Area. My name is JD Young, caretaker at the reef, also the co-host of Locked on NHL. I want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen. Proudly part of the Locked on Network. We cover your team every day. And if you want to be in every day, all you have to do is just follow along wherever you get podcast. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. And today, uh, the Sharks continuing to, uh, knock down some big teams as the Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3 to2 in overtime. Uh, we’re going to break down, uh, why the Sharks probably didn’t deserve to win this game, but they still did. Uh, you also have Ascar bounces back and Ryan Warski, big believer in that defense is for nerds. Uh, so before we get to all that, do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time down the Game Time app. Create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. So, uh, coming a little bit later. I know I was at the game, had to travel home, all that fun stuff to record. Uh, I tried to record at the I recorded like 10 minutes, but the audio was really bad at the SAP center because of they’re trying to clean up and everything like that. So, got home uh recording now. So, sorry about the delay, but um the San Jose Sharks, your San Jose Sharks with backto back big time wins uh beating the Colorado Avalanche 3 to2 uh in overtime, a game that started very slow from the Sharks, but they they were able to come back and took advantage of some of their opportunities, beating a very good Devils team 5-2. this Sharks team starting to maybe figure things out here as as a team that maybe just start to see some right just play 500 hockey. That’s what we’re asking for. They’re well on their way to kind of getting to that uh status right now as being a 500 hockey team, which doesn’t sound amazing, but where we have been the last few years, that would be a huge benchmark for the San Jose Sharks is to get back to being a 500 caliber team. So the big story though from this game was Yarlavasrov who had a a monster performance today. Uh we know coming out of the Kings game right poor performance there. Uh we gave up four goals on what 14 shots or whatever. Um just not a great game for Ascrov. Much different performance. It was locked in. Um the two goals that he gave up right the one goal where it bounces off Lilan’s skate like the first shot of the game. you, myself included, everybody in the arena just kind of felt like, oh no, it’s going to happen again. Uh, etc., etc. Ascarov comes out and just locks it down for the rest of the game. the second goal, uh, you know, based off of Jeff Skinner hitting the the net there, like kind of crashing into the net. Um, McKinnon’s probably going to score anyway, but like also don’t leave Jeff or Nathan McKinnon wide open by himself in in the high slot. That’s I mean, I’m no expert, but I would probably try not to do that. And even Ryan Warzoski said that he was mad because that was more of a structural breakdown than kind of the refs, etc., etc. So, um, but Ascrov today, this is the Ascrov that we’re we’re hoping for. And Ascrov is going to be an adventure as he clearly proved on on the power play there where he uh kind of picks, you know, healed picks, falls down, he’s still able to kind of get a poke check um to to make a save there. But, um, it was funny. He, you know, Ryan Warski when asked about it, I asked Ryan Warski what was going through his head and he just he literally said like, “Oh no, it’s happening again.” Uh, but he, you know, like he made he was able to kind of make a save there and create, you know, and and keep the Sharks in this game. And if it wasn’t for Ascar, the Sharks don’t win this game because he was outstanding. You’re right. 37 saves on 39 shots. Um, he put up a a great performance today. Um the in all situations uh two goals allowed on 3.23 expected goals, one uh 949 save percentage, uh four high danger saves on five high danger shots, 13 of 14 on mid- danger, and 18 of 18 on low danger. And um the Shark was much better about keeping the crease clean, which made Ascrov’s life much easier. Um, and yes, Ascrov still has some of his shortcomings that he needs to work on, but uh, if he can see the puck coming in, he’s usually pretty good at tracking it and Ascrov was able to track much better today and it led to him having success very much. You know, we’ve been having this chicken or the egg discussion with Ascrov and you know uh, the defense played much better in in making his life easier and Ascrov was able to respond, right? He bailed the Sharks out in a couple situations. Clingberg had a especially one just brutal turnover that Ascarov bailed them out and the Sharks who had struggled to kind of get going in this 1pm game. Ascrov came to play today. Uh and he he kept the Sharks in this game in a game that you know like we we’ve seen games like this where the Sharks stay in it for a little bit and then all of a sudden it’s six to one. Um not today, right? The Sharks uh were able to stay in it, right? and especially in a game where Colorado 15 shots in the first period, 15 shots in the second period, and then San Jose was really kind of able to take over in the third period and and earn themselves uh the victory in this game. And a lot of it because of Ascrov’s uh Ascrov’s play early on. So, um you know, two out of the or three out of the last four games for Ascarov have been good uh you know, and of course the one stinker uh from from him from the Kings. I think if he can get get back to, you know, putting together a couple good games here, I I think we can kind of, you know, hopefully start to put to bed the Ask’s a bus, Ascrov’s a bum, all that, you know, Ascrov isn’t that guy type of of questions and let this kid continue to grow and mature into his role as a starting goalender in the NHL. Um, and that was that’s a big that’s a good team, right? That is a very good team. Uh the the Colorado Avalanche and we’ve seen them run plenty of team out of the teams out of the building, right? Uh and I think the Sharks who you know again weren’t up to snuff the the first uh period or so were able to find their game in the third period. But uh big shout out to Ascrov’s performance and big shout out to to the hero of today also Philip Kurichev. um goal uh you know goal to tie things up. Great feed from Tyandria there. uh but overtime goal as as well and Kersev has been an absolute heater um as of late and you know like this is why you you got him in here is to try to add more offense and um you know there was some questions about where he kind of fits and how the Sharks are going to utilize him and stuff but he’s really found a home on on this second line with Alex Blenberg and with William Ecklund and you know I I think this second line is a big reason why the Sharks have been much better recently is because they have two lines that can go out and not only play but play well and and produce, right? Uh we know celebrish of line has been really good as of late. Um do I expect them to continue to score the way that they have been scoring? Probably not. H freaking Dodgers. Um but this is a you know like they are asked a lot to do a lot and they have been able to to kind of live up to those expectations right now and exceed the expectations. Um and a lot of it has to do because of Krishv’s ability to find the back of the net and uh guy who’s on a great contract at you know $1.2 million. Uh I I think he could be one of those guys who kind of continues to see his role grow as the season goes on. Um and you know can be kind of a key contributor for the Sharks as they start to to kind of figure this thing out here. A team that’s now one three out of their last four games. What a world we live in your San Jose Sharks who are uh starting to win some games. Um you know I know it’s uh very early but I always even if I don’t post it I always like to check the tankathon. Um, the St. Louis Blues below the San Jose Sharks in the standings right now. So, interesting interesting things uh happening here. And the Sharks not, you know, they’re I think this I think this team is starting to kind of figure things out here. So, uh we’re going to talk about uh why defense is for nerds. apparently. Uh Ryan Warski also a big believer in defenses for Nurser as we we’ll kind of talk more about the second line. Uh we’ll talk about some more of the uh uh kind of uh things from the game. We’ll dig into the numbers as well. Uh so we’ll do that here in just one second. Hockey season is officially here and nothing beats being in the arena for those opening games. Let’s be real, getting tickets can be a total headache. Between waiting in cues, surprise fees, and prices that jump right before checkout, it’s easy to get frustrated when all you want to do is cheer on your team. That’s where Game Time comes in. The app that gives fans the advantage. It’s your ultimate life hack for scoring amazing NHL tickets fast, easy, and stressfree. Uh their zone deals are a big time game changer. You can pick the section and game time picks your seats, and you save big. You can even find NHL tickets for under $25. Take the guess work out of buying NHL tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. That’s code locked on NHL for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. All right, before we continue, do of course want to thank you for making Lock on Sharks your first listen. Proudly part of the Locked on Network. We cover your team every day. If you haven’t yet, perfect time to subscribe uh as we’ll have postgame reactions. Uh we have fun interviews coming up as well, especially with Sharks prospects. Uh so make sure you follow along wherever you get podcasts and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. Um, freaking Dodgers. I hate it so much. All right, defense is for nerds as some a saying that I have been saying on this very podcast for a long time. Um, and Ryan Warsovski today when asked about what makes his Weenberg Kersev Echin line that has been going up against the top kind of, you know, lines and and has been able to produce. uh he was asked what has been making this line so effective and uh I thought it was a very interesting answer as someone who’s very much on the defenses for nerds go score goals type of approach. What’s made the line so effective defensively? I think when you go to shut down a top line like that everyone says you got to shut them down the defensive zone, you got to, you know, play without the puck. I want them to play in the offensive zone. And I think that’s the best way to shut down the top line is to play in the offensive zone, hold on to pucks, make them come 200 feet, make their top players play defense. You know, top players, you know, really don’t want to play defense. And we got to make them play defense. And I thought that did a really good job of that. Defense is for nerds. Go score goals, right? Uh yes, you have to play defense at times, but uh it’s impossible to play defense for 60 minutes. And that has what is what has made this Wenberg ecu line so effective. Um is that they are scoring goals and making the other team have to play defense. Uh as any longtime listener has heard me say that a bajillion times, right? Defense is for nerds. Go score goals. Uh Ryan Worowski uh noted listener to the podcast apparently uh telling his team go score goals because defense is for ders. Anyway, um so big just just super happy to hear that from from him. So um other kind of big things from this game before we kind of get dive into the numbers is um continuing to learn lessons in in winning games, right? in a game that you really, especially the first half of this game, you really didn’t deserve to to kind of win and be in this game. Um, and you know, the Sharks hung in there. They kept it close, but the third period, right, uh, and how many times have we seen the Sharks in the third period just collapse? And you know, I we going to this, you know, going to in the second admission going into the third period, I thought this game was either going to win with the Sharks winning in a dumb way. Um or you felt like the ABS were going to roll off like four straight goals here because of the way that they’ve been playing and the Sharks found a way to to get the offense generating and going um in the third period. And yes, I know the ABS are on the second game of a backtoback and they had to travel, etc., etc. Like that’s still like one of the best teams in the NHL. Um, so big part of it though was Melbourne who was an absolute monster in the third period. Um, and you could tell anytime he jumped on the ice, positive things were going to happen. He just had that kind of look in his eye, eye of the tiger, I’m going to just drag this team to a win. And we’re going to see more like everybody who’s very much like the sharks could keep tanking the sharks should keep tanking game. Mlin celebrini is going to continue to have more and more games like this where he literally puts the team on his back and starts to to drag this team to more and more wins. And yes, I know he got a goal. His goal came in the first period, but um he was dominating dominating the third period. And being up in in the press box, you just get like a different view of Cabbrini, like the above ice view of just watching him and his ability uh to just read and the ice and see where everyone is. And it’s such a such a treat to be honest. Uh it just show like how special and how well he can just feel and know exactly where everyone is to make this the plays he does. Um absolutely massive game from him. And I know again the Sharks only had uh they only had 23 shots on goal. It felt like Celibbrini had 15 of them um to be honest. And yes, I know he did have 15 shots on goal. He he ended up with six of them, but it felt like he was just generating offense every time. And this is what special players do, right? Is any time they touch the ice, you never know if something special is going to happen. And Celerini is a special player well on his way to being a superstar. I again he’s kicking that door down to being an NHL superstar and in a game where you Nathan McKinnon and Kale Mar were on the ice. Uh it’s fair to say Mlin Cabbrini was might have been the best player on the ice today at times. At times uh McKinnon had had his for sure. Um but Celibbrini went went toe-to-toe wi with him uh which is good to see. So, uh, other couple just kind of things really quick here before we, uh, finish the before we get to the numbers and stuff. Um, left the game, uh, took a a nasty puck to the face, uh, just kind of deflected into the bench. Needed some serious help getting down to the tunnel. So, not good to see. I would expect him to be out for a little bit. Of course, Ryan Warsowski didn’t give any sort of um update on him, but that would be my guess is that uh he probably needs stitches or something and it might be out for a little bit. And it’s it’s tough because like we saw this the same thing happen last season um you know with with the goalending and that knocked out um you know and the Sharks were were uh VTEC Vanichek for a while. So hopefully it’s, you know, hopefully it’s just kind of just some stitches and the swelling can go down and L Green can come back in because uh Ligin’s been really I know he’s dealt with some injuries, but he’s been a big part of I think why the Sharks defense is starting to kind of settle things down here. So uh same thing with Moo Mullan helping to settle uh the Sharks defense down and and kind of figuring things out here. Um no word on Sam Dickinson. I know we are all uh Sam Dickson watch continues on day three now uh waiting for him to see if he’s going to make the team or if he’s going to stay past the uh first you know pass his 10 games. Um, I think he does just the way Worstski was acting kind of a bit of a rye smile, like a little kind of uh poop eating grin uh when asked about it. Uh, you know, and of course we’re going to continue to ask and he keeps saying he’s still here. He’s still here. Uh, a little, but it it’s like just just let us know. So, it would be nice. But, uh, especially with some of the injuries here, I think that the uh well, we’ll see. We’ll see for for Sunday. There’s no morning skate, unfortunately. So, uh but we’ll see. Hopefully, I you know, Dickinson I’ve made my case for Dickinson. I I I just think going back as as tough as it’s been in the NHL for him, I just think going back to the OHL is going to uh there’s not going to be much benefit for him in the OHL, especially with the things that he needs to work on. So, um, but we’re going to dig into the numbers of this game, uh, here in a second and talk about why the Sharks were able to steal the game in the third period. Uh, one, thanks to Ascrov and two, the offense kind of finding his gear in the third period. Uh, so we’ll get to that here in just one second. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel. the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you’ve missed the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payoff. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. All right, before we continue, do of course want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen. For your second listen, check out the allnew Locked on NHL game night every game, every night until Stanley Cup champion is crowned. Get local analysis on national scale. find NHL game night unlocked on NHL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right. Uh this game very much uh in Colorado’s favor, especially the second period where where Colorado really took it to the Sharks. But again, San Jose San Jose in the third period, they were able to find their game and, you know, kind of make it interesting. and then uh take advantage in in overtime here. But uh 50 minutes at 515 uh shot attempts were 64 to 34 in favor of the ABS. Uh like I said, the first uh two periods were 22 to 28 um in in favor of shot attempts to Colorado uh while the Sharks had uh 23 shot attempts combined in those two periods. So um the shots on goal in at even strength 34 to6 scoring chances 31 to 15 12 to four high danger chances uh 2.47 to 76 expected goals for all in favor of the Colorado Avalanche but the third period Sharks were able to make things interesting. Yes, they got a couple power plays in there which really helped and they were able to kind of build momentum off of off of those moments, but um you know the 14 to 11 shot attempts, you know, much cleaner. Uh five to five actual shots, 8 to five scoring chances uh during that time. So San Jose was able to kind of generate a little bit more quality opportunities. Uh Ascro came up big and I think the Sharks riding the the momentum of the power play. The Sharks honestly could have gotten like three other power plays in the third period. Uh there was some like CBrini got tripped and uh Will Smith got tangled up with as well. Like there was there was some issues there where definitely could have uh worked out for the Sharks definitely but um again it all it worked out anyway. So um Smith celebrating to fully played 14 minutes 9 to6 shot attempts 5 to7 actual shots had a goal gave up a goal uh 0.15 to.31 expected goals four uh 3 to 10 scoring chances 0 to4 high danger chances so again like Colorado is a ridiculous team uh Equin Wber Kersev 1255 8 to 14 shot attempts uh 2 to8 actual shots 09 to 0.51 expected goals four five to eight scoring chances uh and 0 to2 high danger chances. So uh Dandria Giles Barkley Goodro played 715 7 to9 shot attempts uh three to four actual shots 07 to27 expected goals four uh with two to four scoring chances for that one. So Dandria like I said had the really nice feed. Um Giles kind of coming in for Ryan Reeves who I guess was uh he’s dayto-day but was in a walking boot. So, we’ll see there. Uh, with that, I, you know, wonder what the Sharks kind of do here, especially in the back to back, I assume. Um, because you don’t really have any other forwards. Maybe they go 11 and seven if they want to pull Misa out, but we’ll we’ll see. So, Skinner Misa Graph played 631, four to 17 shot attempts, three to 10 actual shots, uh, one goal allowed, 008 to point4 expected goals, four 1-6 scoring chances. Uh, poor Skinner had a just a a rough game. physically like he definitely uh definitely needed the cold tub I think after this game as he was ran into the post, got knocked out a bunch of times, got high sticks in the face, like just looks like a a rough game for Skinner physically as he was uh kind of beat up there. I thought Misa was really quiet today, which is okay. uh right for and we we’ll see with Misa as the plan again to continue to kind of stretch things out here uh so they can kind of make a decision on what they’re going to do with Misa and Dickinson. Um but Misa just just quiet game again it’s a very good Avalanche team as well. So, um, and defensively, um, you know, it’s a little bit tougher like we, you know, just because of of not having pairs since they were having to run five defenseman for the, you know, good chunk of of the game. But, um, defensively though, Orlav led the way. Uh, Corsy4 51%. Orlava was outstanding say some big time stick uh like getting his stick in there last minute to break up some some great passes especially on the penalty kill. Uh but Orlav I thought was was great today kind of continuing to build off his performance. Um and then John Clingberg was next defensively at 36.84%. Clingberg continues to be a little bit of a a roller coaster there. Uh Dear’s 33%, Mukuma Madullan 23% and Mario Ferraro uh 18.75% Corsy4 and again like the Sharks got obliterated corywise uh 65 to 35% basically. So um you know I do we’ll see what the Sharks want to do. Well, actually, we won’t see until basically game time because uh San Jose is no morning skate uh against the um uh against the the Red Wings here. But, um overall though, like you know, probably a game you you probably didn’t deserve to win, but uh you’ll take it. Uh definitely I I think the Sharks need to be more like they were in the third period where it’s a little bit more uh even offensively and both teams are, you know, or they’re able to generate more offense, but um like you have to feel pretty good about where this team is headed, right? Um you you beat two of the the best teams in the NHL uh recently, right? Uh with New Jersey and with Colorado. Um, you you’ve got some some this is a this is a tough stretch coming up here between you have Detroit who’s off to a really hot start. You have Seattle who’s off to a good start. You have Winnipeg. You have the defending cup champions uh here like in the next uh week or or so. Like this is this is a you know big opportunity for uh the Sharks to kind of see what they’re made of and if this team is has any staying power, right? Um because if you can you can start peeling off a couple wins here and there against some of these teams like you know you can talk I don’t again not playoffs but I think we can kind of look at this team as they they start to build here and not be you know just the the worst team in the NHL and kind of maybe put the bed the like this is the worst team in the NHL and and hand the title off to somebody else for a little bit. So uh but overall good to just nice to get some wins here. So, uh, we’ll be back tomorrow after the, uh, we’ll have a preview for the Sharks Red Wings game. Uh, we’ll kind of break down the Red Wings, you know, kind of try to figure out what’s, uh, what the Sharks are doing with their lineup. And, of course, we’ll have a reaction to the Sharks Red Wings game. Uh, so make sure you’re following along wherever you get podcast. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on Tik Tok at locked on Sharks. Follow me on Twitter and Blue Skyfry Hole. Until tomorrow. Bye, friends.

The San Jose Sharks pulled off a stunning 3-2 overtime victory against the Colorado Avalanche, and the performance signals something bigger might be brewing at SAP Center. With three wins in their last four games, including victories over quality opponents like New Jersey and Colorado, are the Sharks finally shedding their reputation as the NHL’s worst team?

Yaroslav Askarov delivered a redemption performance with 37 saves after his disastrous outing against the Kings, facing down Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar while posting a .949 save percentage. Philipp Kurashev continued his hot streak with both the tying goal and overtime winner, proving his $1.2 million contract might be the steal of the season. The second line of Kurashev, William Eklund, and Alex Wennberg has become a legitimate scoring threat that’s allowing the Sharks to roll two effective lines.

Head coach Ryan Warsofski’s “defense is for nerds” philosophy gets examined in depth, as he explains why the best way to shut down elite opponents is sustained offensive pressure rather than defending for 60 minutes. This approach has transformed how the Sharks match up against top lines.

Macklin Celebrini put on a third-period clinic that had him going toe-to-toe with MacKinnon and Makar, generating six of the team’s 23 shots and demonstrating the superstar potential that makes him must-watch hockey. The rookie is already carrying this team in crucial moments, and these performances will only become more frequent as he matures.

The episode breaks down the statistical reality of a game the Sharks probably didn’t deserve to win, getting dominated 64-34 in shot attempts through two periods before finding a way in the third. Injury concerns emerge with Timothy Liljegren taking a puck to the face and Ryan Reaves in a walking boot, while Sam Dickinson’s roster status remains uncertain as his 10-game evaluation window closes.

Tune in for granular statistical analysis, injury updates, and insight into whether this recent success represents genuine progress or just a temporary hot streak before a brutal stretch against Detroit, Seattle, and Winnipeg.

Timestamps:
0:00 Sharks Beat Avalanche 3-2 in Overtime
2:33 Sharks Playing .500 Hockey Now
7:09 Philip Kurashev’s Overtime Heroics
9:11 Sharks Rising in Tank Rankings
10:46 Defense is for Nerds Philosophy
13:19 Learning to Win Close Games
14:53 Celebrini Dominates Third Period
16:56 Liljegren Injury Update and Concerns
19:32 Breaking Down the Game Numbers
23:39 Physical Toll on Jeff Skinner
26:11 Tough Stretch of Games Ahead

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