SLEEPWALKING: San Jose Sharks STALLS In 4-1 Loss To The Dallas Stars

SLEEPWALKING: San Jose Sharks STALLS In 4-1 Loss To The Dallas Stars

The Sharks almost lulled the Stars to sleep, but couldn’t rev up their offense. You’re Locked on Sharks, your daily podcast on the San Jose Sharks, part of the Locked On 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. Want to thank you for making Locked On Sharks your first listen, proudly part of the Locked Onet, the number one sports podcast network. We cover your team every day. And if you want to be an everydayer, all you have to do is just follow along wherever you get podcast. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Today we’re going to be breaking down the Sharks 4 to1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Uh which saw a very sleepy start from both teams to be honest. Uh and then the Sharks offense could not get into that next gear as the Stars take over. Uh we’ll look at some players who really stood out including Jeff Skinner and Sam Dickinson and then dig into the numbers in this very low event hockey game. So before we get started with all that, do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. So uh the Sharks, uh yeah, that was a a very sleepy game, I think, especially the start of this game. Um, my first takeaway from watching this is it felt like the Sharks were scared to death, especially in the first period to make a mistake, right? And especially after the way that the Sharks uh game went against the Capitals, right, where they made a ton of mistakes and all those ended up in like twoon- ones or breakaway, like just really sloppy hockey that way. So, it looked like the Sharks were trying to play extremely detail oriented uh like buckle down defensively styled hockey, but um unfortunately for them, they just could not do anything to generate any like just passes, simple things like passes, skating, uh like that in the first period, uh were not nowhere to be found until kind of late in the first period when they finally got a couple shots on goal. But um you know, credit to Ascarov who kind of kept the Sharks in this game early uh while while things uh the Sharks offense or just the Sharks, not even just their offense uh struggle to find any sort of momentum. So um but like I I get right where the Sharks were trying to really be a much more defensive oriented team, especially after what happened, right? you you got crushed seven to one against uh the Washington Capitals who are one of the best teams in the NHL and then you’re facing an even better team in the Dallas Stars who are the second best team in the NHL right now behind Colorado. Um so they were trying to be I like almost scared to death to make a mistake. Um and at five on five play I think to the detriment of the team, right? they they shifted way too much uh one way to the other, right? And we know this the Sharks team is especially with these young players uh they are a team that usually likes to get out go kind of push the pace especially offensively with Celabbrini and you’re going to live with some mistakes. Uh and and I think they the pendulum swung too much the other way. Um, and I will get like credit to the Sharks like in the second period they really found their offense and and they were or at least they found their game and they were generating more offensive opportunities and you know getting the cycle game and doing much better of uh puck possession and stuff. But uh this is a team that continues to squander its opportunities. Um you know we we saw tonight I guess a penalty kill that’s pretty equal to the Sharks. you get four power play opportunities and you’re not able to to get a goal there. It’s not a good look. Uh and I know and and like it wasn’t like that they were, you know, just unlucky like the power play did just did not look good tonight. Just uh again back to that simple thing of like making passes, keeping the puck in the zone, things like that. Uh the Sharks offense could not do that even with a man advantage. and and uh you know Clingberg was was bumped down to the second unit, but uh it’s still just a lot of the same issues that we’ve seen from this Shark power play uh cropped up again tonight. And like credit to doubt like Dallas’s defense came to play tonight. Um and you know when like Mirror Hkin was awesome tonight. He was matched up to Celibbrini as often as they possibly could. Uh, and made Celabbrini’s life very hard. Mirror Heskin very good defenseman uh like all-around defenseman. One of the best and like I think kind of underrated to be honest with with how good he is. Um, but just the Sharks like any opportunity that they had they couldn’t. And then when they do get a goal late in the third period, uh sloppy offense because they can’t uh stay on side and as soon asberg hit that p like you know launch it deep. I was like Kersev is offside. I hope the Sharks don’t score. And guess what happens? They score a goal which eventually comes back because uh yeah the offside rules. So, um just just a a struggle for for San Jose tonight uh to to kind of get anything going. And I will say like this game was was played much closer than I expected. Uh and I think for both teams, you know, especially Dallas is very short-handed and and still continues to find ways to win. Um they have this ability to kind of play this game, right? Especially against an inferior teammate. uh our team like the Sharks where you can kind of play with your food a little bit, right? Like let them hang around and then all of a sudden, right, right around that 10 minute mark in the third period, uh Dallas just ham put the hammer on on the the gas, right? And then they got a two they made it they took the lead and then Miko Ranton got the uh the insurance goal to make it three to one and of course there was the the empty net to make it kind of make it a little uglier than this game actually was. So that’s what good teams do, right? Where even like it’s night like tonight where Dallas definitely didn’t have its A game and you could argue probably didn’t even have its B game. Like this this was a C game from Dallas, like a let’s just get through this thing. Uh we have bigger fish to fry type of game. And you saw them when they needed to get some offense, all of a sudden it was just like two different teams playing. Um, so it it kind of feels like San Jose had a chance to steal this game, especially with all the power play opportunities that they got. But I think Dallas was was clearly the better team and just kind of trying to work its work its way through this, get through a game, try to get your two points and get out of there. Uh, especially again for a team like Dallas which does have much bigger aspirations. So, um, but I would say like the Sharks defensively played a lot better, especially compared to what we’ve seen. I think they need to find that balance of playing playing well enough defensively, but letting their offense do what the offense does. and and that’s going to be the big struggle for San Jose is how much can you give up offensively to be able to play solid enough defense, but then you’re not hamstringing yourself to the build to the point where you just can’t generate any offense. And that was the story for the first half of this game or so where uh where where San Jose just could not generate offense. So um and unfortunately it just doesn’t get much easier because then you’re playing Carolina on Sunday here. uh which is uh one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. So, uh we knew this road trip was going to be brutal uh for San Jose and it’s uh off to a little bit of a tough start here. So, um we’re going to though kind of shift and and look at which players stood out, including Jeff Skinner and Sam Dickinson, who I I both thought played really well tonight, especially Skinner making his return from a lengthy injury. Uh so we’ll talk about some of those guys. Talk about uh what uh what the numbers say here uh in just one second. The World Cup is coming back to North America for the first time since 1994. And with 48 teams and for the first time is going to be massive. But let’s be honest, getting tickets is usually the hardest part. That’s why the game time app is clutch. Finally, giving fans a real advantage when it comes to snagging seats. When game with game time, you can track prices as they drop in real time, get alerts when great seats open, and buy tickets the moment they hit the app. It puts the power play in your hand, the power back in your hand. Sorry, excuse me. It makes going to the World Cup realistic instead of impossible. Uh, great thing is you can pick a game, tap a section, and have tickets locked in within minutes. No confusion, no hunting for the fine print. Prices include fees upfront, which I love. Uh, no last second surprises at checkout. Uh, alerts for teams and matches make it easy to grab tickets the moment they drop instead of missing out. Take the guesswork out of buying World Cup tickets and with every match, concert, or event 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. Again, download the app, make an account, and use code lockdown NHL for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Game time. All right, before we continue, do of course want to thank you for making a locked on Sharks your first listen. Uh if you haven’t yet, perfect time to subscribe. Uh as of course we’ll have reactions to the Sharks games. Uh we’ll have CUDA coverage. Uh of course talk about the number one prospect pool in the NHL. Um, plus a a special new feat item coming out on Monday. Uh, so more about that will be coming out uh next week. So, make sure you follow along wherever you get podcast and of course can watch on YouTube as well. All right. Um, players who I I think stood out in this game. Uh, I want to start with Jeff Skinner who Skinner making his return uh tonight for the first time in a long time. He, you know, missed 10 games here. uh with the the ankle injury that looked like it was gonna be really bad but wasn’t as bad as I think that they expected. So Skinner made his return tonight. I thought Skinner was really impactful tonight. Um kind of right brings that kind of hard-nosed get to the front of the net uh to try to score mentality. I think the Sharks need a little bit more of and especially when your offense isn’t doing much. in the Sharks offense tonight wasn’t doing too much. Um, and that him and that that third line like when we get to the stats like that this third line kind of got outplayed when it came to shot attempts and stuff. Um, but I do think that this line was impactful and I know Justin uh you know he he came back and he played 1732 tonight like he with two shots, a couple hits as well, but uh he was you you could tell when Skinner was on the ice um making plays, right? He drew the the penalty with Miko Ranson with both him both of them going to the net. Probably could have drawn another penalty as well. uh the way that he was playing. Uh he got one where he got knocked, he got elbowed and kind of got dragged down and the refs are just like uh play on. Um I think that was like late first, early second, something like that. But um I think Skinner, if the Sharks want need or want to if the Sharks are to get more secondary scoring here because that’s been a big issue for them, guys like Jeff Skinner are going to be big time pieces for that uh going forward for this Sharks team. And the Sharks team offense has really started to kind of stall out lately and I think Skinner’s return could be a big boost for the off potentially big boost for the offense here going forward. Uh, and Colin Graph, right? We we know Colin Graph, who’s been an absolute monster on the PK, uh, got a goal tonight. Nice kind of, uh, ugly goal there. He slips it through Ager, who really didn’t even see the shot going on. Um, so like it’s good to see this line, I think, play pretty well tonight to be honest. So, um, and then Sam Dickinson, I really liked his game tonight as well. And of course, he’s going to have his rookie mistakes, right? There was a play early like in the first period where uh he tries to kind of play the puck instead of the man. The puck goes kind of get squirts out in front. uh Ascrov makes a save there, but um he you saw just a lot more confidence with him as it continues to grow, especially with the puck and not being as afraid to like he was one of the the few players who I felt like wasn’t afraid to kind of do something with the puck and you saw him jumping into the offense more. You saw him carrying the puck through the neutral zone a lot more, which is one of his strengths. like uh something I wish actually he did a little bit more of at in in the OHL was was kind of take the ice that was given to him and you’re seeing him do that here a little bit more and I really like the way that he uh was was kind of involved in trying to drive the offense and make some stuff happen. Especially again for a team that’s struggling to get any offense going. Uh anybody who can chip in right now is is a big help. And uh for Dickinson uh would be nice if he can kind of get into all these games here, especially without on this road trip with no backto backs. Like I don’t see why Dickinson can’t be getting into all these games. Uh they’re still being very like actually tonight Dickinson saw a a good jump in his offense in his ice time at 1722. Uh which is good signs, right? especially uh like Ligrin played less than 16 minutes tonight like um Clingberg played the most at 2214. Um but seeing Dickinson playing like if you’re playing Dickson 17 18 minutes like I that those are good signs that he’s starting to I think hopefully get the training wheel. They’re loosening the training wheels. We’ll just say they’re loosening the training wheels. So, the next step is getting him on the power play because uh the way again as we just talked about in the first segment, right? This this Sharks power play has been struggling as of late uh has not looked crisp. Uh let’s get the kid who is known for his offense. Uh and let’s get him on there because uh right now the Sharks need to be they need to be a little bit more aggressive when it comes to scoring. they they’ve it’s really struggled in that department with the exception of the uh six goals they put up against Utah. It’s been a real struggle for them to to get the puck in the back of the net. Uh so uh but yeah, I thought Dickinson played pretty well tonight. Um I don’t think Lety played that bad tonight. Well, so I’ll keep that quiet. But uh again, like the the bar for like Nick Lety and John Clingberg is like you need James Cameron to pull this bad boy up right now. So, um, but I think those two guys I thought played, uh, had pretty solid nights tonight, uh, and as well as I guess that whole third line, uh, for for San Jose. But, uh, overall though, just kind of like I said, it’s it’s very sleepy performance. Uh, and it felt like that the Sharks were trying to just kind of drag drag the stars into the mud here and see if you could squeak one out at the end or get one in overtime. Uh so we’re going to dig into the numbers of this game um and kind of talk about how all the Lions did. Look at how this game was very low event from both teams. Um so we’ll get to that here in just one second. The holidays are amazing, but they can get overwhelming fast. Travel, gifts, parties, year end expenses. It’s really easy to lose track of your money this time of year. That’s exactly why Monarch has become such a gamecher for me. If you want to keep your finances under control this holiday season, you need to be using Monarch. Rated Wall Street Journal’s best budgeting app of 2025. Monarch is the all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, simple dashboard. It’s your own personal Puckedia. Holiday spending category can be become a real lifesaver. You can see exactly what’s left in your gift and travel budget in real time. Monarch makes money uh check-in simple. Just a minute or two each week and you’re completely up to speed. And it’s great for couples with shared dashboards, shared goals, and fewer weight. How much do we spend conversations which are never fun to have? Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on NHL at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code locked on NHL. All right, guys. When you are done with this episode, uh done, not now, done. Uh make sure you guys uh go check out the locked on NHL game night, uh where they cover every game, every night until Stanley Cup champion is crowned. You’ll get local analysis on national scale. find NHL game night unlocked on NHL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. So, uh let’s dig into the numbers behind this game because, uh it was low event hockey. Uh so, if you like not a lot of shots, uh if you like not just not a lot of stuff happening, this was your game. 4616. uh a five on five time uh 42 to 31 shot attempts in favor of the stars uh 57.53 to 42.47 uh cory4 so shot attempts actual shots at five on five is 21 to13 uh in favor of the stars uh 22 and 211 scoring chances 1110 high danger chances 1.91 to 1.26 26 expected goals for uh the Sharks team, like I said, sleepy first period. Uh 03 expected goals for uh for the Sharks in the first period. They had five shot attempts at five on five. Uh two actual shots at five on five. Zero scoring chances when zero high danger chances. The Sharks offense uh was very much asleep. But credit to San Jose in the second period where they really kind of got their game going. 13 to11 uh shot attempts, 6 to4 extra shots, 6 to5 scoring chances, two to2 high danger chances. Like the second period, uh San Jose got their goal there. Uh but they really took control of this game and it looked like they were going to, you know, maybe maybe take the lead, especially when you have the way the second period ended. You get two power plays that starts the third period. Um, but the Stars team, like I said, just that that third period, they put the pedal to the metal and they were able to take over this game. And I think that this is one of those games where, you know, uh, we there’s definitely a world where we’re talking about, wow, this was a big upset by the Sharks as they kind of, you know, uh, styied this Dallas offense. So, um, as for the line tonight at five on five, Skinner Delandry graph line led the way, which is a little interesting, but there was some blind bobbling here and there. So, uh, but they had six to 17 shot attempts, 1 to 11 actual shots, uh, for that line and gave up two goals. Uh which I know again I just praise how I thought this line played tonight but um they zero to8 scoring chances 04 to 79 I expected goals for uh so we’ll see we’ll see what this line does in here but I did like it’s weird because this is one of those where I watch like the eye test felt like they were being a little bit more impactful than the stats. Uh so that’s we we do try to marry the two here. Uh Equin Wberg Kersev played 1058 five to seven shot attempts uh two to three actual shots 06 to.16 expected goals four one to five scoring chances 0 to2 high danger chances um this line like you could see them trying to set up the cycle tonight but they just couldn’t really get things going and that’s how this line is super effective right is when like Wenberg and Eklland start getting a cycle going um and then you know Kerschev jumps in or Kersev finds a little opening and stuff like that, but um they just couldn’t get set up tonight unfortunately. Uh Smith celebrating to Foley. They played 855 3-7 shot attempts, two to three actual shots. Uh.16 to 0.58 expected goals, four one to five scoring chances for that line. Um like I said earlier, like I don’t think this line played bad. I just think the Dallas defense and Hastkin uh like especially I just think they did a really good job of frustrating and making life difficult for this line and that’s going to happen right when you play some of these top end defenseman they’re going to like they get paid a lot of money too right um and that’s going to be kind of that next thing for Cabrini as he continues his growth and same thing with Will Smith right as they continue their growth and development uh is what happens when you do face these shut down defenseman because I do think Celabbrini was was all over the ice tonight, right? You saw him, you know, draw a couple penalties or should have drawn a couple penalties. Uh like you you saw him, you know, really like kind of trying to attack the net. But I think tonight could have been one of those nights where uh Celbrini maybe tries to put on the Superman cape a little bit more and just say like I’m one of the best players here. Let me shoot right. Let me try to kind of drive to the net. Let me let like let me be a little selfish tonight. And we probably would have been talking about a much different night if Kersev doesn’t go off sides and he scores there and then it’s three to2 and maybe the Sharks are able to find that miracle goal to tie things up with two and a half minutes left. But uh alas here we are. So um and then Goodro stop Godette uh played 451 four to five shot attempts uh one to one actual shots uh.16 uh to.18 expected goals four two to2 scoring chances as well so um we did we did get a little bit echan celebr had a really good uh shift at like they played 212 together uh 4 to one shot attempts there So, just something to kind of keep in mind there, which would make sense. But, um, you know, just just a a little bit of a just like I credit the Dallas defense for tonight, I think, a lot. I mean, it’s it’s a little bit of both, right? The Sharks offense just didn’t look ready to play, especially in the first period, but the Dallas defense did a really good job of just like making things hard and making life hard uh for them. So, uh, defensively, the Ferraro Clingberg line, uh, they were led the way at 58.33% Cory4. Lety Dickinson 37.04% and then Orlav Ligran 25% uh, Cors C4 for them. Um, ask tonight, um, I think had a a solid game, nothing like spectacular uh, tonight. I know some people on the Sam Steel goal uh there maybe you want a little bit more like maybe you want to save there but I I feel like as he kind of got a they they got away with a few from Sam Steel. Um so he made 20 saves on 24 shot. I don’t know why uh Natural Satrick uh like he wasn’t clearly wasn’t in the net for the empty netter. Uh so he made 20 saves on on 23 shots. Um three goals allowed on 2.56 expected goals four uh from him. So again nothing like spectacular but I don’t think it was a bad game from from Ascarov like the robo goal he is left all alone right uh Sam Steel crashes the net. You probably want either Ferraro who’s standing there to maybe help support or LGren to kind of keep uh Steel from getting the puck up. Of course, you want Asky maybe a little bit cleaner of a save there as well. Um and then you know Miko Rantin like is Mo Ranton. There’s not too much that I think you could have done there. So uh overall like much better much better performance uh than what we saw versus the caps. Um but still the Sharks off I think the Sharks offense needs to figure something out here. Um because you you can’t expect to win every game two to one and I think that’s that was kind of the plan for the Sharks night was to try to win this game two to one. Uh and it just wasn’t going to happen especially with how good the Stars team is. So, uh, a little tough night for for San Jose and it doesn’t get much easier as you play the Hurricanes on Sunday. So, uh, we’ll be back then, uh, to break down that game. So, make sure you guys are following along wherever you get podcasts. Of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on Tik Tok at Locked OnSharks. Uh, follow me on Twitter and Blue Skyfry Hole. Uh, until Sunday. Bye, friends.

San Jose Sharks struggle to ignite offense as the Dallas Stars secure a 4-1 win, revealing critical concerns for the Sharks’ young roster. Can a more balanced attack emerge before their tough road stretch continues?

JD Young breaks down the Sharks’ sleepy start, highlighting missed power play opportunities and the return of Jeff Skinner, who brings needed grit after injury. Key discussions cover Sam Dickinson’s growing confidence, Miro Heiskanen’s stifling defense against Macklin Celebrini, and ongoing power play woes. Analysis includes how the Sharks’ defensive adjustments impacted their own offensive momentum and whether the team can find the right blend of structure and creativity with marquee matchups looming against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Can the Sharks generate enough offense to keep pace with NHL heavyweights—or will a focus on defense blunt their scoring upside? Don’t miss this sharp look at San Jose’s biggest questions moving forward.

Timestamps:
00:00 Sharks Struggle with Defensive Play
06:00 Dallas Overpowers Struggling San Jose
07:56 San Jose’s Struggles and Standouts
10:27 Sharks Updates & Skinner Return
13:44 Sam Dickinson’s Confidence Growing, Driving Offense
18:44 Low-Event Hockey Breakdown
23:05 Celebrini’s Impact and Missed Chances
26:24 Sharks Struggle Against Stars

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-sharks/

Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
DripDrop
Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order.
Go to https://dripdrop.com and use promo code LOCKEDONNHL.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.
Monarch
Take control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.
FanDuel
Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. So if you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit FanDuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#NHL #Sharks #SanJoseSharks