The San Jose Sharks welcome the Ottawa Senators into SAP Center.

Michael Misa scored, but the Sharks lost 5-1 to the Sens.

Period 1

1 in: Don’t like that from Marchment. Gets puck high in OZ, his back turned to Ersson. He’s holding off a Sen, trying to protect the puck, I think, waiting for someone to join him on attack. Help doesn’t come and he loses it high in the zone. I get what he’s trying to do, but get it in deep, win territory or at least live to fight another day with Sens pinned down. Feel that’s emblematic of the Sharks this year, trying to make that play that leads directly to offense, when there’s a simpler play in between.

Sharks tools

4 in: San Jose Sharks off to a slow start. Hoping that third period against Canucks would be a springboard toward more “on your toes” hockey, but not so far.

9 in: Stenberg loses it trying to enter, again, there’s simpler play there, but credit to Misa, he creates a turnover for Stenberg to recover and shoot.

10 in: Celebrini line with the first burst of legitimate 5-on-5 offense tonight. Sens are careless with puck in NZ, and the Sharks counterattack. More of that.

8 left: Like Bystedt’s shooting mentality on the shift. Off OZ draw, laces it wide. Then from wall, fires it, deflection, Ersson has to make more challenging save. Don’t love how he ended the shift though. Had puck himself along wall, forced a low-to-high pass that could’ve easily been housed the other way. That situation, get it in deep, trust your forecheck.

Cozens goal: Sharks haven’t played well, but Nedeljkovic must have that, cut and dry.

6 left: Goodrow just passed it to himself through Spence’s legs. Whoa. Nice move, then almost connected with Trouba jumping up. Ersson save? Sharks playing better hockey since midway through period.

Misa goal: Great Trouba shift. Made the NZ pass, short but in stride, for Misa to enter. Misa got cut off, but Trouba came down wall to intercept the Ottawa rim. Sherwood kept it alive along the wall, good grind work, Trouba made a good read and attacked the slot, got the pass, fired, got the rebound, and found Misa all alone for the tap-in. Easy goal but set up by greasy Trouba and Sherwood work. Credit to San Jose Sharks, undeterred by slow start and soft Nedeljkovic goal, getting to their game.

1 left: Poor shift to end period though. I think fans will see Toffoli failing to clear at the end, but what I look at more, earlier, right after Sens entry, Bystedt had clear possession and not much forecheck on him. Toffoli had a man right on him. Kesselring had given Bystedt a short pass. Bystedt went for the easy backhanded rim up the wall to Toffoli, which was easily intercepted. I feel like he had time and space to skate up and push back the Sens’ forecheck there. I think maybe a lesson for the rook, you want to play safe, of course, but you must recognize the moments when you have to take charge and be assertive with the puck. That was such a moment and might’ve save San Jose a minute of defending.

Period 2

4 in: Graf, I think, blows two chances to shoot the puck in tight. Not directly related, but close enough in time…

Batherson goal: Just tissue-paper defense there. Unacceptable. Orlov doesn’t do much of a job blocking the Tomasino pass. When he steps up, I think Stenberg must do a better job of helping out on Batherson, who had beat Allan. This is defending a split-second slow. Just poor all-around defense. Giving goals away.

7 in: Greig just smokes Marchment up the ice. I haven’t loved Marchment’s game this afternoon, but that’s one, that’s a tough race for him. I think a pinching Trouba put him in a bad spot, Trouba chased a not even 50-50, Marchment tried his best to cover. Credit to Sens for recognizing and exploiting.

Graf finds Smith in slot, then helps win the puck for another Smith chance, so good bounceback shift there.

9 in: Goodrow and Zub collide after the whistle, then go at it. Not sure what set it off, in particular, maybe Goodrow just trying to get his guys going.

10 in: Not a good NZ turnover by Graf, trying to make a play. Doesn’t feel like he’s playing with much confidence. It does lead to…

Stutzle goal: Misa is taken out of the play by Kleven. Could be why no one picks up Stutzle walking down, looks like it. Basically a 3-on-2 on entry vs. Dickinson-Nurse, Graf tries to recover, but I think he was up the ice during Misa hit.

Did Sherwood get a misconduct…for chirping Ersson?

Greig goal: And the wheels come off. Shortie. Now, Greig exploits Smith with his speed. Smith has to know who he’s facing there, was looking right at him. Should’ve peeled off and retreated instantly, instead of trying to contain Greig. Also, Stenberg flubbed a saucer Celebrini pass in the slot, that started the sequence off.

Bystedt-Misa-Toffoli-Kesselring-Trouba is PP2 with Sherwood out.

Period 3

5 in: Terrific 5-on-3 kill by the Sharks’ PK, crowd appreciates it, time for San Jose to make Ottawa pay.

8 in: Misa ended up with Celebrini-Smith there, at tail-end of his shift, and they created a little. I’ve liked Misa tonight, and I know you need him at center, but I wonder if you load up there now? Graf hasn’t done a lot offensively tonight, left some offense on the table. Misa’s speed could help Celebrini, take some puck-carrying pressure off of him.

10 in: Kesselring trying to push attack, draws a call. He’s been one of the Sharks with a pulse tonight. I’ve liked him.

8 left: That awful high PP exchange by second San Jose Sharks power play unit…sometimes, value in getting it low, going to work, instead of the high area PP pass when that area has tons of traffic. Lots of standing around on the Sharks power play.

Celebrini now five games without a goal. Sharks are still a one-line team, when he’s not on, Sharks are off. Last year, his longest goal-less streak was six games (three times) and nine games in his rookie year is his career-worst. Just two assists in his last five. He needs to get help too, and the team is not giving it to him. It’s two realities: His line was the Sharks’ best tonight, and probably fueled mostly by him. But it wasn’t a very good line either. Hopefully, just a little slump from Celebrini, or Sharks in big trouble.