Yaroslav Askarov DOMINATES Defending Champs, Sharks STUN Florida Panthers Tonight

Yaroslav Askarov DOMINATES Defending Champs, Sharks STUN Florida Panthers Tonight

Some people owe Yarislav Ascrov a big time apology. 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, 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 podcast network, now the number one sports podcast network. And if you want to be an everydayer, all you have to do is just follow along wherever you get podcast. Of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. And today, uh, it’s Yaris Ascro’s world, and we just live in it. Uh, we’re going to be talking about Ascarov’s performance as the Sharks take down the defending Stanley Cup champions. Presence Trophy one day, Stanley Cup champions the next day. It doesn’t matter as the Sharks uh improve. They’re over 500. What a world we live in. Uh, so we’re going to talk about that game. Uh, talk about the ref show that was in this game, how this isn’t a recipe for success. Plus, we’ll dig into the numbers as the Sharks uh win 3 to one. So, before we get to all that, do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanul.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. So, um it turns out Yarlav Vascro might be good. Uh and what a performance tonight. uh as we’ll talk about later, not a recipe for success, long-term success, but uh tonight, Ascrov takes on the defending Cup champions uh in the Florida Panthers and shuts them down, uh stopping 38 uh making 38 saves on 39 shots. And even the goal heal he gave up was a little um we’ll say controversial uh as he gets his helmet knocked off right before uh Brad Marian grabs the gets the puck and puts it into an empty net there. Um, really quick on that, like I know like the NHL they’re trying to be more kind of a little gray area with that where it’s like Ascrov losing his helmet there wasn’t going to prevent him from making the save if that makes sense. So, like I totally get it and if it was the other way around, you know, um you would kind of feel like like if the Sharks were in that position of like of being able to potentially score a goal there with the goalie getting like I I totally get it there. But, um back to Ascrov tonight. Um absolute maniac tonight and as we’ve seen over the past few games here, just locked in. Uh and this this is the Ascrov you traded for, right? where in games where you didn’t have your agame, um you’re getting, you know, just hemmed in your own zone, you need someone to make a big time save here. And Ascarov did it tonight. Ascarov is the reason why the Sharks won this game. Um and he was absolutely upset. we’ll say credit to the Sharks here for especially like when we dig into the numbers later, but like Ascarov like I like he not I’m not trying to downplay his night, but like he only had to face seven high danger shots and uh he made six saves on seven high danger shots. Uh five of five on mid danger, 24 of 24 low danger. uh like the Sharks did a good job of of keeping the crease clear and making his life easier. And again, like uh he made some big time saves tonight, right? Uh but that though is a recipe for success of trying to limit these low danger shots and the Sharks have been doing a much better job of that as over the past couple weeks during this uh you know kind of streak and this improved play. Um the Sharks have been making the goalie’s lives easier. Granted, right, Astro still faced 39 shots tonight. Um, and the shot attempts were were astronomically out of proportionate in favor of uh the Florida Panthers tonight. But, um, these these moments here where again, second night of a backtoback, you just played the uh Winnipeg Jets who again were the the president trophy team last year. um you’re facing the Stanley Cup, you know, champions who, yes, I know they’re missing key players, but that that team is still between the chemistry and the other pieces they have and just the way that that team plays, right, just extremely aggressive. Uh they get away with with literally anything as we saw tonight. uh and Ascarov stealing a game, stealing a game for the Sharks that we would have seen the Sharks countless times blow this game, right? Where you get out to a two to1 lead. Um you’re stuck in your own zone and then the Sharks blow like right, they give up that back breaking goal or they give up the tying goal and then they can’t find their offense again and then they lose, right? Like we’ve se seen the Sharks do this a hundred times, but now we have not only one in Asarov, but now you like with Nadulkovich’s play too. You feel like you can win any given night with these two guys. And Ascrov over the past couple weeks here has really improved and has really shown why the Sharks gave up so much for him from the National Predators, right? a first round pick and then David Edstrom who is a former first round pick to acquire him and to you know have him be the goalie of the future. Um Darren Stevens who of course like Shark stats if you watch any of the broadcasts he gets you know mention all the time uh he brought you know uh sent this out 3-0 in ASCR’s last three starts 1.32 goals allowed 972 save percentage 23 uh for 23 on the penalty kill when it comes to saves um sustainable 97 no but uh I think this helps to kind of even out what we saw from the beginning of the season where it felt like Ascrov couldn’t stop a beach ball. Ascrov has his confidence back now and he just looks like the Ascrov that we saw especially with the Barracuda last year. Um, and you saw like the postgame interview right on the bench just like you know playing to the crowd being the Asgrov like the personality is back the swagger is back and that’s when Ascarov plays his best right when that swagger is is there and he is just you know kind of living up to it and man tonight was was a was a huge huge performance from him. Um, quickly though, like Cabbrini continuing to do Min Celebriny things. Another goal tonight. Great work by Will Smith. Will Smith continuing to put together great games as well. And those two together just absolutely dynamic. Um, celebrating extends his uh lead on in the NHL when it comes to points. And something, you know, we talked about in the summer uh I I mentioned it several times. um people who were were pro tank and you know expecting this the sharks to to to try to tank again this year. I said Mlin Celerbrini and Yara Slavas are going to drag you kicking and screaming to to too many wins this year and tonight was a perfect perform example of that right. Um Yara Salvas just being ridiculous. Min Celebrrini uh out there scoring uh a goal as well. And like the this team who is now one point one point out of a playoff spot which is ridiculous. Um they’re six sixgame point streak, threeame winning streak. Um and again we talked about it yesterday. They’re not playing like jabronies in the NHL. these these are some of the like best teams in the NHL and teams that are expected to go very deep and on very deep playoff fronts and the Sharks are they’re getting points and they’re getting wins against these teams and they did it again tonight despite despite having to deal with a bunch of ref stuff uh which we’re going to talk about here in a second but um Yaris Savvascro living up to the bill as the the franchise’s goalie of the future and the goalie of the present now uh And the nice thing is again between the way he’s been playing and the way Nadell coach is playing, you have to have confidence that no matter who you throw out there, you’re going to get a solid performance, if not a spectacular performance on any given night. So, um, yeah, this team is is, you know, they’re finding ways to win in some games that they probably shouldn’t win like tonight, but, uh, again, right now, you you’re just trying to kind of stack some points and and see where this thing takes you and just kind of ride it right now because this this team is this team is super fun. Uh, that you can tell like this this team is super fun and they’re they’re just scratching the surface right now of what this team is eventually going to be. So, uh, we’re going to break down the ref show. Uh, we’re going to talk about again why this isn’t a recipe for long-term success. Uh, but we’ll take it tonight. Uh, so we’ll, uh, we’ll discuss that here in just one second. Let’s be real, making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve heard them all before. It’s just stress. I’m tired. It happens to everyone sometimes. When it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. That’s where Rouette comes in. 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Uh we have something really special coming up on Monday with the uh Joe Thornton uh getting announced uh or Joe Thornton’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Uh we’ll have player interviews coming up. We’ll talk about the Barracuda as well. Probably have a Barracuda episode coming up here really soon. So, uh, make sure you guys are following along wherever you get podcasts. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Um, any like longtime listener, like I try not to be like a ref like complain about the refs because typically like I’ve said this before, right? Typically in in a season it usually balances out, right? Where you’re going to get calls that go against you that probably shouldn’t have gone against you and you’re going to get calls that you probably didn’t deserve, but like typically it balances out. Tonight was a a rough one for the refs, right? Uh as the Sharks have to kill five penalties tonight uh against a a Florida Panthers team that is uh we know the style that they they play, right? They are bullies. That’s the type of hockey they play. They’re going to come at you like they’re going to play along the the margins there, try to take advantage of any opportunity they get. Like that is their style of hockey and it has worked very well, right? Uh with two with back-to-back championships and then a third uh appearance in the past three seasons. Like the this team knows their identity. They play to their their identity. Um but just the egregious like non calls for the Panthers tonight, right? Um a a easy like too many men, six guys on on the ice, like one, two, three, four, like you can easily count like that. They have six guys on the ice. No call. Uh Melabbrini just getting uh crossch checked and then someone just like lies on him. uh in the slot. And you know, I know Maco Celibbrini is 19 years old uh right and you got to kind of work to to kind of get those calls, but ju just egregious uh lack of calls there, right? And again, like this is in in the slot right in front of the goalie. Like every ref is looking in this direction. Uh and nothing nothing. Adam Goddet just working working his tail off to get the puck gets yanked down behind the net. Absolutely nothing uh there. So, and you know, like I’m not saying that the the calls that the Sharks, you know, got called for like you know, they were trips and and stuff like they got their you know, you have to be better with with your stick and stuff. But like if you’re going to call it, just call it for both teams. like uh that I think that was a frustrating part where the Sharks were were not getting the benefit of the doubt with some of these calls while the Florida Panthers were getting away with whatever they wanted. And granted, right, this is a team that has uh again gone to the Stanley Cup three years in a row and has won it back to back years. Like you’re going to get some leeway, especially again with the style of play. they they play to that where the they dare the refs like dare the refs to call it and the refs aren’t going to call everything. Uh and yeah, anyway, that’s my piece. Uh, so the SH I think that I think that’s what makes this win even better is that that they overcame what they had to and they overcame the horrible calls as well cuz it would have been terrible to get on here and be like the Sharks lost three to two and the refs just did not like just did not care. So again, makes it feel a little bit better that that you were able to kind of uh beat both teams tonight. So again, the Sharks are going to have their games where they’re going to get some calls, like it it just naturally bounces out, but super frustrating. Um, as great as the win was, like this this as this team is trying to kind of build its identity and and figure out what it is, the games like this are not a recipe for success, like long-term success. And that’s something that we have talked about on this podcast several times, whether through team building, etc., etc., are about that sustainable success, right, of trying to again be that next Colorado Avalanche, be that next Tampa Bay Lightning, be the next Florida Panthers, right? This these teams that are any as long as Celabbrini and Smith and are healthy and Ascarov, if these guys are healthy, you’re going to have a a a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup. Uh the play tonight was was definitely not a a you know sustainable success and like I said the Ascrov was the reason why the Sharks won this game. But you can’t play games and expect to win where you’re giving up 20 shots on goal. And like again like this Florida team is is ridiculous. Like uh even without their best players, this team still is they’re going to play hard and they’re going to make you work for it, right? Um, but these are going to be the the things that, you know, Ryan Wars is going to have to continue to preach and and, you know, not let this team, you know, kind of get complacent, right? Because that’s this is the maturity part of it, right? Is um, yes, you’re winning games right now and you’re winning games maybe you probably don’t deserve to win. So, you can’t sit on your laurels and and just think like just, you know, drop the puck. Let’s roll out here. we can we can do this. Like this team still has a long way to go to be a a competitive night inout team. And I think tonight was a nice reminder of how far this team still has to go to be one of those top teams, right? To be that next Avalanche team, to be the next Lightning team, to be that next Florida Panthers team. And again, like the Panthers who are down their two best players, right? like take take, you know, Celibbrini off the Sharks and take Will Smith off the Sharks and go out there and see how they perform, right? And like we know we know this team would be would be, you know, the worst team in the NHL without Smith and Cabbrini. And I think that’s that’s the credit to the Panthers and how they’re playing right now. um that that that you they don’t have their two best players and they’re still um playing extremely hard and and playing really well at times. Um but I do like I said I I think for for San Jose and res we’re going to dig into the numbers. This is a great learning experience game especially with a couple you got a day off on Saturday on Sunday. Um you got a another practice before you you jump on a plane to Minnesota. I think that’s gonna that should be Ryan Warsovsky’s message, right? Is we got a game here, but we cannot play continue to play this way and expect to have the same results. It’s it’s just not sustainable to be giving up, you know, basically 40 shots on goal and giving up 20 shots on goal in a period and think you’re going to keep walking away with wins. So, we did talk about in the in the pregame, right? Like the Sharks need to take advantage of their opportunities. They they did that tonight and we’re that’s we’re going to talk a little bit more here in a second, but um tough tough way to live to to try to uh try to win a bunch of games. So, uh we’re going to dig into the numbers behind this game. Uh talk about how the Sharks were able to again take advantage of some of their opportunities. We’ll look at the lines uh 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. 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Uh let’s dig into the numbers of this game because again, uh Sharks definitely got away with one here, but we’ll we’ll take it, right? We will take it. Um 44 minutes of five on five uh thanks to the ridiculous amount of uh power plays that the uh Panthers got in this game. 54 to 28 shot attempts at five on five 65.85 to 34.15% cory4 right that pace of play. Panthers controlling the pace of play for the majority of this game. Uh actual shots though 30-7 in favor of the Panthers. scoring chances though. Here’s where again the Sharks took advantage of their opportunities. 15-13 in favor of the Panthers. 7 to6 high danger chances in favor of the Panthers. So despite the Panthers taking basically, you know, uh 2:1 shot attempts, uh you know, 54 to 28, pretty close to to the Sharks still quality over quantity, which is has been kind of the Sharks MMO recently is we we may not be able to take every shot, but we’re going to take advantage of our we’re going to get quality and earn quality opportunities, but um we are going to take advantage of those. And the Sharks scored two goals at five on five compared to the Panthers one. Um expected goals four 1.75 to 1.45. So like again this this team despite getting outplayed, the Sharks kept it close and kind of uh were able to generate some quality opportunities um you know against a very good defensive team, a team that has to play extremely defensive uh tonight because or right now without their top players. So um looking at at the forward lines for the Sharks, so no changes from from yesterday. um Smith Celebrini to fully play 1025 uh H to 13 shot attempts, five to four actual shots had the goal of course 51 to.15 expected goals, four uh four to four scoring chances and 2 to1 high danger chances. So like this this C like the celebrating line again taking advantage of their opportunities. Yes, they’re getting hemmed in their zone for a little bit, but when they get that chance right, they take off and they push and they try to kind of cause some chaos and it worked out for them them tonight. Uh Kersev Wenberg graph 837 four to eight shot attempts. Uh one to five actual shots. Uh gave up a goal 02 to.33 expected goals, four u one to three scoring chances, zero to three high danger chances. So we knew this line was going to get the tough assignment, right? and they hung in there tonight. Like this, you know, I thought Graph was was ridiculous tonight. He made some great plays, right? The diving uh PK play to try to like just get the puck out of the zone. Like Colin Graph, man, he whatever you need him to do, he’s going to do it. Um and then of course, Wenberg gets uh rewarded with the empty netter because of Colin Graph getting the puck out of the zone there uh and shooting it down. and Winberg gets on this horse like super happy that those two guys were were kind of the guys that that made that empty net happen. Uh because they they deserved uh they deserve the credit for that for how hard they worked tonight. So um yes, numbers aren’t pretty. Numbers are not pretty for them, but they hung in there. though Skinner Danger Cardwell uh 758 7-6 shot attempts 5 to3 actual shots 26 to.18 expected goals four 3 to1 scoring chances one to nothing high danger chances I love this line tonight I thought they uh anytime they were out there they really set the table for the next line um this line was was all over the ice tonight and probably had should have gotten rewarded with a goal I thought they were going to score because of the way that they were playing um Skinner again like it it feels like he’s he’s about ready to explode here and have a few goals. Cardwell, you know, just continues to Cardwell. Yeah. Continues to kind of do what same thing as Graph, right? Kind of whatever you need him to do, he’s going to do. And DAR, another guy who a lot of people I think owe an apology to. Dandria has been uh has been rock solid for the Sharks this season. So um Goodro Goddat Reeves played 554 6 to3 shot attempts 5 to2 actual shots got a goal because of a Godette tip um 6 to08 expected goals four four to1 scoring chances three to nothing high danger chances uh right bully line here uh I thought good was pretty solid tonight as well uh re like Godette had another great night um you know kind of got the goal of course also you know should have had a pen drawn on a penalty, but alas and Ryan Reeves, um, that was like frustrating because of the trip there. Um, but this, you know, this line has been was quietly effective tonight as well. So, um, got to feel got to feel pretty good about where, you know, the Sharks lines are. And again, when Ekkin gets back, uh hopefully back here soon, like if you feel like the Sharks will be able to get another, uh kind of get another gear going here with with the scoring. So defensively um so the of course he’s going not going to be pretty because of right how you know skewed it was for the Panthers but the Dickinson Deese pairing uh 52.38% Cors4 Clingberg uh 34.78 or Ligren 23.81 E1 that or line. They got a they got a tough assignment tonight. But Dickson I thought makes some made some really nice plays as well. Had some miscues as you would expect from a 19-year-old. Uh especially when you play against this Panthers team that is so aggressive and they’re going to press press. Um to get some nice plays. You saw a couple nice uh you know transition starters and ex you know uh as he got the puck out of the zone made a couple nice pinches as well. like you just see the decision making with Dickinson just really start to kind of smooth out. Uh Deese, like I said, man, he’s he’s really earned my respect this year and and has, you know, stand up for himself. Like you you just you know exactly what you’re getting from Days. He knows he’s comfortable in what his play. He knows exactly what’s asked of him and he does it. So, uh Ferraro Clingberg, a little bit of an adventure tonight. Uh but you know uh I will like Ferraro and that PK like that in that third period there where uh like the Panthers were going all out to try to tie this thing up. Um Ferrar was a maniac on that PK man. Just all effort from from Mario Ferrar on that PK. So, again, not a a um recipe for long-term success, but we’re going to take it tonight as this Sharks team officially over 500, one point out of a playoff spot right now. Uh, which is something I didn’t expect to say at any point this season. So, um, look at us, guys. We’re again, we’ll see where this thing takes us, man. We’ll see where it takes us. So, uh, make sure you’re following along because, uh, this team is only going to get more and more fun. So, yeah, make sure you guys are following along wherever you get podcast. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Uh, follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on Tik Tok at lockdown sharks. Follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky Fryhole. Uh, until Sunday night, Monday. Bye, friends.

San Jose Sharks shock the hockey world with a gritty 3-1 win over the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, powered by Yaroslav Askarov’s jaw-dropping 38-save performance. Is this the turning point that puts the Sharks back in the playoff mix and establishes Askarov as the franchise’s goalie of the future?

JD Young offers a high-energy breakdown of the Sharks’ victory, highlighting Maclin Celebrini’s explosive impact, Will Smith’s steady development, and Adam Gaudette’s important contributions. The episode takes a hard look at lopsided officiating, dissecting controversial non-calls and their effect on the game’s tension. Listeners get insight into the Sharks’ evolving defensive approach, Ryan Warsofsky’s coaching strategies, and the roster’s ability to outwork elite NHL opponents. With the team climbing past .500 and just one point shy of a playoff spot, the conversation turns to sustainable success, upcoming matchups, and whether San Jose can shake off a history of heartbreak to build a legitimate playoff run.

Are the Sharks truly contenders, or is this hot streak a flash in the pan?

TImestamps:
00:00 Askarov Shines Against Panthers
04:20 Sharks Improve, Goalie Steals Win
08:42 Sharks Thriving Against Tough Odds
11:51 Ref Struggles vs Panthers Analysis
16:35 Staying Competitive Every Game
17:29 Sharks’ Long Road to Elite
21:10 Sharks Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
25:31 Sharks’ Lines Show Promise

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