Sharks Start Thanksgiving Early, Lose 7-1 to Kraken

Bjorkstand goal: Sigh. Okhotiuk with Evan Bouchard-like defense, just misses the puck right in front of him, it goes to Bjorkstand in front for easy empty net. Bad bounce or lack of alertness? Okhotiuk also missed on a pinch which sprung the 2-on-1. That was too aggressive a pinch, not even 50-50. I think Zadina was standing around inner slot, but I don’t blame him. That’s a play, you expect your defenseman to figure out. Zadina was ready for a breakout pass, like he should be.

Larsson goal: Hedican has a good breakdown on how Emberson goes the wrong way on Eberle in the corner. From a 1,000-game Cup-winning defenseman like Hedican, I’d listen to him.

9 left: Good observation by Hedican about Zadina off the OZ draw, Granlund wins it, it dribbles to Zadina, instead of slapping it to open d-men at point, Zadina tries a tough backhand play one-on-one, turnover.

Eklund is back with Hertl.

3 left: Another good Hedican observation on Granlund eliminating Tanev, one small play at a time. Sharks trying to make up three-goal deficit with one big play, instead of stringing good little ones like that.

Gourde goal: Kahkonen has been under fire, and made a lot of big saves, but that’s one he needs to stop.

1 left: San Jose Sharks miss golden opportunity on power play, Kraken broke a stick, so almost a two-man advantage. Addison maybe had a couple moments where I think he should’ve cranked it instead of waiting for the perfect pass to fire on. I hate being a “Shoot!” guy, but that’s what I saw, he got a couple cross-slot passes, and didn’t look like a 50-50 threat, like he was only going to fire if it the pass was perfect.

Period 2

2 in: That’s doing too much by Zadina. I liked the pass to himself off the wall, he almost gets to it, then he forechecks hard, turns it over for a second…but penalty.

Okhotiuk back out there on PK.

McCann goal: The San Jose Sharks have to think like they’re down 1-0 and not 5-0. Don’t know what else I can say.

9 in: Granlund has a step but caught from behind before entry. I spoke with a scout recently, his thought is Granlund might be slowing down. He’s been up-and-down at best this year. Unreliable motor. Getting caught like that suggests a player who doesn’t know his limitations anymore, thinks he can do more than he can. Sign of decline. Easy for me to say watching a stream, but getting caught in the neutral zone and turning it over there is counterattack city. Granlund has had sparks of greatness too, I will say. But hasn’t come together in a game this season.

9 left: Good one-on-one by Emberson on Beniers, though Sharks under siege now.

2:30 5-on-5 shift from Emberson there. Ferraro 2:27.

6 left: Basic stuff, Okhotiuk has to get it deep. He doesn’t, backhands it to Kraken D, who turns it up.

5 left: Hahn points out a funny but dark observation. After 20, Sharks had eight shots on goal. Shot counter now at seven. So San Jose has had -1 shots through 15 minutes of the second. Honestly, a well-deserved deduction.

4 left: More good stuff from Hedican about Okhotiuk rushing with the puck on his stick. It’s a young defenseman thing, you hope. If it is, and Okhotiuk gets more experience and grows, he’s going to be a winning NHL player. He has to be a better puck-mover and be more selective in his aggressiveness, but good tools.

Period 3

1 in: Nice backhand indirect lead exit pass by Okhotiuk to Zadina. That’s the stuff. Doesn’t lead to offense, but that’s not Okhotiuk’s fault.

Tolvanen goal: Better teams get breaks like that. Off the glass behind Blackwood, Tolvanen quicker to the rebound than Knyzhov. I don’t blame Nikolai on that one.

Hertl goes hard into boards there, staying on bench. Testing his left leg, it looks like.

Hoffman goal: Hey, Sharks get a bounce. Goodbye, shutout.

Tolvanen goal: What a shot through Emberson’s legs. Smith with the turnover. You want a stop there, but is what it is.