The San Jose Sharks have had success this season by understanding that how you finish the game is often the most important part of the equation. The trouble for the Sharks against the Ottawa Senators was the finishing part of it all. The Sharks jumped on the Senators early and thought the team had a goal within the first 90 seconds or so of the game. It was a quick strike produced by none other than the Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev line. However, an easy review by the linesmen found that Smith jumped into the play offsides and the goal was overturned.
As a result, it was not San Jose that ended up getting on the board first, but Ottawa. In fact, Ottawa controlled the play for most of the game and while Natural Stat Trick’s Corsi shows that the Sharks hung with the Senators for first half of the game, that’s really just because the team was able to create scoring chances, not because of puck possession.
Interestingly, in all situations, San Jose out chanced Ottawa 13-3 in the first but was subsequently out chanced 6-20 in the second and 3-8 in the third.
San Jose did not play particularly well in that third period and that final goal was a brutal one to watch.
That last goal may impact what happens on the ice today. While we usually don’t look ahead to the next game in quick bites, since the Sharks are back in action today, it’s worth looking ahead.
Which defensemen play today?
John Klingberg has already been healthy scratched once recently and that goal was 100% a misplay by him. So, where do the Sharks go from here?
We know that Sam Dickinson will play today. He was off yesterday with a development day. Vincent Iorio should be back with the team after his “conditioning” assignment with the Barracuda. That’s two defensemen that need some playing time. Nick Leddy also hasn’t played and likely would like to get back in. But if that happens, who sits?
Klingberg might after that brutal misplay with the puck, but sometimes coaches like allowing vets to work through their troubles on the ice.
For those of you that missed last night’s game, Mario Ferraro took a brutal hit along the boards. Forgive the Sens Twitter fan account for not understanding hockey initially, they figured it out on the replay.
I know Ferraro takes pride in being able to play all the game. He’s tough. He returned to the game, but you have to figure he’s feeling some residual effects from that hit. Given the influx of players on the blueline, it’s not completely out of question for him to take a maintenance day on the second of back-to-backs.
Could he sit tonight?
Of the defensemen on the ice, Shakir Mukhamadullin was the least impactful according to Hockey Stat Cards.
He’s been healthy scratched multiple times this season and could be again tonight.
There’s a lot for the coaching staff to consider as it prepares for tonight’s game.
Other stats
Other quick notes.
The Sharks only one 38.9% of the faceoff draws last night.
The team went 1 for 5 on the power play and 4 for 5 on the penalty kill.
Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith assisted on John Klingberg’s game tying power play goal in the first period. Celebrini is third in the NHL scoring race as of this morning with 32 points. Five behind Nathan MacKinnon and one behind Connor McDavid.
Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced. He was slightly positive in the goals saved above expected. He had a 3.13 goals against average and a 3.19 goals saved above expected.