Instant Reaction to Sharks-Kings Game

Hopefully things get turned around, Sharks haven’t been playing well as of late losing three of their last four. They need a strong showing, and their division rival Los Angeles Kings are in town tonight. Here we go.

First Period

-Puck drops, and Evgeni Nabokov already gets an early rush towards his net. these are not the same Kings. They are definitely a playoff team, mark my words.

-Coach Todd McLellan didn’t really change his lines from the Calgary game. I think that was more a factor of Mikka Kiprusoff being outstanding than anything else.

-I would really like a good showing from Marc-Edouard Vlasic, he’s been struggling something terrible right now. Even Nabokov called him out after the loss to the Blues.

-Just about five minutes in, and pretty even start to the game so far. Jonathan Quick not in goal for the Kings tonight, probably just a scheduled night off. He’s not listed on the injury report.

-Torrey Mitchell sent to the penalty box, but the Sharks have the best penalty kill in the league. Take the good with the bad I suppose.

-That sure ended up bad, Teddy Purcell strikes with a power play goal to give the Kings the early lead. So much for that vaunted penalty kill.

-Halfway through this first period, and the Sharks definitely look a bit flat. Perhaps it is one of those December swoons? They shouldn’t look this slow right now.

-GOAL!! Nice to see Joe Pavelski chip in, and the key element of secondary scoring is back in play. Way to use the speed to his advantage.

-Ahhh, the crowd is already engaging the BEAT LA chant. Is it bad that I am already thinking ahead to baseball season??

-Just saw a great check by Devin Setoguchi in the Kings’ zone, who says only the tough guys do the hitting? Game tied 1-1 at commercial break.

-Back to the game, and lately it’s definitely been hockey weather around the Bay Area. In fact, I even saw snow on Mt. Hamilton. San Jose residents know exactly what I mean.

-Earlier, before the Sharks tied the game, saw a great collision between Douglas Murray and Jack Johnson. Perhaps the richter scale picked up the tremors on that one.

-Approaching the last couple minutes, and the Sharks will get their first power play of the night. Talk about needing a jolt of energy, this is one unit that has need some serious help as of late. Alexander Frolov is whistled for his penalty.

-GOAL!! Patrick Marleau gives the Sharks the lead, not the prettiest goal, but good things happen when you crash the net. Second chance proves golden for the Sharks, and they take a 2-1 lead.

-End of the period, scary collision between Murray and Dany Heatley and they’re shaken up as they leave the ice. In the meantime, Sharks go into the intermission with a 2-1 lead. Good start.

Second Period

-Looks like Heatley is ok after that collision, running into Murray is never a good thing for ANYBODY.

-Just as Murray recovers, he gets a high-sticking penalty. Nice going, kid. Another PP for the Kings, already 1/1 with the man advantage.

-So much for the Kings PP, Michal Handzus sent to the box for goaltender interference. That is some efficient penalty killing for ya.

-Johnson doesn’t wast any time and ties the game up. Bit of a fluky shot the way it bounced, nevertheless, it goes through the five hole to tie the game at 2-2. Another goalie interference call against the Kings though against Rob Scuderi, time for the shark chomp.

-Sharks really crashing the net here, not wasting any time doing so. I just wonder where that mindset was the past few games.

-An extended PP chance goes to waste, but definitely nothing wrong with Rob Blake’s shot even though it went just a bit over the crossbar.

-By the way, I am a big fan of the net cam. Catches some REALLY cool angles during those rushes to the net. Unrelated note, Mitchell back into the box for the second time tonight. Same tripping penalty as last time. Save the jokes for later people.

-Anze Kopitar capitalizes on a total defensive breakdown, now the Kings have a 3-2 lead. On top of that, Dan Boyle gets a cross-checking penalty and the Kings get another PP chance. This is a far cry from last period.

-You have got to be kidding me…Drew Doughty scores from the blue line and now it is 4-2 Kings. Put it this way, being outscored 3-0 in a period is a real stinker…just awful.

-GOAL!!! Finally, the Sharks show some like as Boyle redeems himself after that ridiculous cross-checking penalty. A 4-3 deficit is a bit more palatable, considering how the Sharks have played this period. Commercial break with 6:33 left in the period.

-Little bit of high-sticking there by Handzus, Sharks say thank you with a PP chance to tie the game with about five and a half minutes left in the period. Boy, do they need this one.

-Great sequence on that PP chance, just didn’t quite capitalize on it. Definitely some life in this team now, maybe the barrage woke them up.

-2:28 left in the second period, Sharks get another PP chance after a blatant cross-check. Time to try it again.

-PP was a bit of a disappointment, Sharks head into final period down 4-3. Their power play just isn’t getting it done right now.

Third Period

-First part of this crucial period, Sharks need to start attacking. They’re spending way too much time in their own zone again.

-This isn’t going to help, Kent Huskins sent to the box for tripping, and the Kings have been good on the PP to this point, converting 2 of 4 chances.

-While I’m thinking about it, if I had to summarize Nabokov’s effort tonight, it is definitely inconsistent. He’s made some great saves, but he did let in that fluky goal from the blue line in the second period. This would be a tie game if he stopped it. Sharks do kill the penalty however, with about 15 minutes left, still down 4-3.

-Now Handzus makes a return trip to the box (his 3rd tonight), so another Sharks PP chance. Do us a favor and capitalize on this one OK?

-Guess that one goes to waste, the entire man-advantage unit has just been one big letdown tonight. Real shame to, the chances were there with all the penalties.

-9:44 left in the third, Nabokov finally making some nice saves. Hey Nabby, where was that in the second period??

-GOAL!!! Manny Malhotra comes through in the clutch, and put some extra zing on that wrist shot. It’s a whole new game being tied 4-4.

-One more PP chance for the Sharks, couldn’t have come at a better time with 5:46 left in the period. The arena has been abuzz since that game-tying goal, and even the BEAT LA chants are starting up again, I like it.

-Wow, what a jam session in front of the net, and no chance of a review. The arena is ready to blow up at any time now, especially after it appears the call was blown on the replay, ouch.

-After all that, Sharks come up empty once again on the PP. Although, to be fair, I think the referee robbed them of that PP goal. It should be 5-4 right now.

-2:00 left, every little action is putting the fans on edge (including yours truly). Although I wouldn’t mind a shootout too much.

-Great end to that period. Guess what fans? Free hockey! What a deal!

Overtime

-Wow, what a sad way to end it. Dustin Brown pulls a nice spin move and seals the win for the Kings 5-4. Nabokov again showing his inconsistent stripes, he has real problems with the five hole and that is where the Kings capitalized.

Great game, far from the defensive struggle against Calgary. Still though, the goaltending is having issues once again. If this keeps up, Thomas Greiss‘ name is going to be jumping from the mouths of fans. Good night fans, until next time.

Tags: Game Log, Opinion