San Jose Sharks 24-25 Regular Season Review: Game 7 Sharks @ Ducks

[@sharkhaos_probably]

If it starts getting to you look up Cuda scores and pretend that was the Sharks

[@professorhockey]

Hahaha, I’m happy the Cuda are finally looking good, something to root for at least

[@hoochiemantwinkletoes]

Glad to hear Thompson looked good, I'm excited about him. Overall I like Blackwood a lot. He reads the play well and is really athletic and flexible which helps him make those lateral movement saves. I don't think he's as good on straight shots though, I think that's where most of the goals have gone. Our D doesn't help him out a lot but he's made lots of big saves to keep us in games. Glad we have Askarov for the future

[@laurap.9992]

The penalty box parade has got to stop. So frustrating to watch game after game. I’m gonna try to focus on the few bright spots for now. I was so bummed for Gush when he didn’t get that goal. Can’t get any closer. Ecklund is 🔥🔥.

[@Wes_the_Bes]

Worth the wait! Great analysis!

[@tjue4607]

Very good analysis professor.

[@caravaggiohs9020]

relative to expectations for this game: 5: Eklund Blackwood 4: Granlund Zetterlund Wennberg Gushchin, thompson 3: Ferraro, Walman, Thrun, Ceci, Smith, Kunin, Dellarndrea 2: Toffoli, Goodrow, Kostin, Rutta 1: Smith is a crazy 3, more than being average there was a ton of good and a ton of bad, more like what we expected going into the season. It was nice to see the potential there this game. Ferraro looked a lot more solid, still not peak performance from him but it was ok 2nd line was great, Wennberg feels like the perfect player to help cover for the shortcomings of a young, offensive minded player while still being skilled enough to able to participate in the offense that Gushchin creates

[@professorhockey]

Yeah this was a bit closer to what most expected from Smith this year, lots of good, lots of bad. I definitely prefer this over the quiet games like against Colorado though.

[@1ggage334]

I really am hoping Will Smith is just working past a learning curve because the turnovers and penalties were brutal to watch last night. Blackwood played out of his mind last night so that was entertaining to see.

[@steeefmonn]

That defense man, it just really needed to be addressed. the issue is I look at other rebuilding teams/teams on the sharks level they all have multiple defenders better than anyone on San Jose's Defense pairings. CBJ: Severson, Werenski, Gudbranson ANA: Fowler, Zellweger, etc. CHI: Vlasic, Jones, Murphy, Brodie, Martinez... It needed to be addressed and we simply didn't do it. I expect it not to get much better. Look at Chicago, they brought in defensemen along with forwards. Really would have liked to see that. I dont understand how we saw last year's defense and really didn't do a ton to address it.

[@professorhockey]

I think you might be overrating a couple of those guys, like Gudbranson, but I do get your point. However, with Thompson now and perhaps Mukhamadullin soon, hopefully things will improve and be more exciting.

[@steeefmonn]

@@professorhockey yeah, probably overrating them, Mukhamadullin will definitely be a shot in the arm. I have been happy that Warsofsky has been keeping Thompson in the lineup. I honestly thought he was the best defenseman last game (maybe except for Walman)

[@prosperfireson]

Hey Professor, Another tough night made tougher by the news that apparently Celebrini's injury is weeks away from revaluation not days. For a team like the Sharks that is in such dire need of skill losing Celebrini is a massive blow. I just hope that it is nothing too serious. I agree Ithought Gushin was very noticable tonight and had a number of strong plays in the offensive zone. Love that he is on the 2nd line now. I also thought this was the best game so far for Will Smith. Yes, you are correct there was about as much downside as upside but, to my mind that is a break even since in the past games Will just didn't do much but, take penalties so seeing him get creative and make some strong offensive plays really made a difference for this 3rd line tonight. I suspect that the soliution to your 2nd defensive pairing is Shakir. He and Bordelo were activated and both sent to the Cuda but, I would imagine that once both players are rounded into form and played into shape a bit they may both find themselves on the Sharks sine we need Bordello's skill and better all around play and Sharkir in my opinion when he joins the Sharks line up will become THE most skilled defensemen straightaway. He is likely to make his mistakes and take soem lumps but, he showed me last season that he does have the ability to move the puck at a pretty high level. Pete Clovis, CA

[@professorhockey]

Yes, I am very excited for both Mukh and Bordeleau to get back. I should actually have a video talking about the two of them in relation to the rest of the roster tomorrow (or later today I guess? Haha)

[@prosperfireson]

@@professorhockey that would be great Professor. Given our deficit of offensive skill right now Bordello and Shakir both posses some of that much needed skill plus Bordello has significant NHL experience.

[@ponyboy9765]

I keep telling myself that it’s still very early in the season and not to over react but tonight was frustrating. This team HAS to stop taking penalties. I think this game was within their grasp but they keep shooting themselves in the foot. Still hoping that as the players start to gel things will get better but still worried about players like Toffoli and Smith really starting to make an impact. I also have this little voice in the back of my head telling me the sharks could have Marco Sturm at the helm instead of the guy who stood next to Quinn through one of the sharks worst seasons in franchise history. Some of the moves he’s makes are eerily reminiscent of Quinn style hockey so I’m really hoping he’s able to rally this group. I think the overall compete level needs to be higher from everyone with the exception of a few players (Eklund, Grandlund, Gush… ect) They are chasing the game far too often. I really want to see a shake up on the defense side since I feel like that’s really our worst spot right now. Silver lining is the kings have looked pretty mediocre so far this season so the sharks could take advantage of that. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

[@professorhockey]

That was my worry about the coach choice at the beginning, bringing in someone who was already close to the team last year. As you say, it is still early though. As unfortunate as it is to take it one game at a time, I think we will have to wait at least a couple more months before panicking.

[@RiskyCapital]

Granlund has been mvp all season, great at playmaking, goals just need to be scored more

[@whoopswrongbutton3987]

Time for Smith to get his confidence back in the AHL

[@SfGiantsRants]

WATCH THE GAMES. His line had 9 scoring chances for and 4 against.

[@professorhockey]

Grier seems to have confirmed that he’s not going anywhere.

[@whoopswrongbutton3987]

@@SfGiantsRants I have seen every one so far, and it seems to me he is playing tight. Holding his stick too tight on a number of passes and pass receptions and he is getting himself out of position at times. It’s the later problem in particular that has got him in trouble with the loose stick penalties that have cost us goals and my fear is that will only make him play even more tense.

[@whoopswrongbutton3987]

@@professorhockey I’m mostly worried about his mentality than anything, and thats something I have no insight on and his coaches do so I trust em on that. He seems to be playing tight and overthinking at times instead of feeling the game at an elite level like we know he can.

[@408vonripper]

Let's Go Sharks, last place!!! lose 10 more in a row and be the XYZPDQ!!!!

[@Me-eq3sg]

Noooo. Also it feels like there aren't any teams as bad as the bottom 3 last year so even if we improve and get some Ws we will probably still be last

[@TradingFeline]

What’s the deal with the penalties? What needs to happen to fix this?

[@professorhockey]

- Be less careless with their sticks, they’ve had multiple tripping and high sticking penalties that didn’t even seem intentional. - skate harder, so they can play the body instead of having to take slashing/hooking penalties to slow players down. - make less mistakes, so they aren’t forced to take penalties to avoid potential goals against, like Ceci tonight. That’s at least where I’d start.