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Askarov Resurgence Continues, But Sabres Shut Out Sharks 2-0
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- Askarov Resurgence Continues, But Sabres Shut Out Sharks 2-0
Askarov Resurgence Continues, But Sabres Shut Out Sharks 2-0
The San Jose Sharks welcome the Buffalo Sabres to SAP Center.
The Sharks were shut out 2-0.
Period 1
1 in: San Jose Sharks start strong with a Sabres delay of game penalty, but an ill-advised Orlov pass gets swallowed up by the PK, Marchment is last line of defense, we're 4-on-4 for almost two minutes.
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8 left: Dellandrea line pushes back, the Sabres had been running roughshod on the Sharks. Sherwood forecheck, sweet no-look Dellandrea pass almost connects with Toffoli. Sharks back on the power play, hopefully can restore order in a game where Askarov has kept it scoreless.
Between the Marchment penalty and this Crevier penalty just drawn my Dellandrea, I think Sharks were outshot 10-3 and punished in front of the net.
6 left: San Jose Sharks power play entries still problematic, despite work on it at morning skate. Sherwood did hit Gaudette in the slot with a gorgeous backhanded pass, Sherwood has been on his game tonight. On PP2, Cagnoni led a five-man "swing" entry.
4 left: Couple good looks there for Celebrini line, Graf gets a rebound and had an open net (from some distance), Ellis frozen, but don't know if Graf shanked it, went wide. Then Misa line follows, Smith negotiates his way up the ice and has a slot shot.
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Really slow start for the San Jose Sharks, but they picked it up, Buffalo 16-12 shots. Gap was way wider earlier. But Sabres up 7-2 at 5v5 High-Danger, per Natural Stat Trick, tracks, and is not a sign that they're cleaning up they're net front defense issues.
Period 2
Zellweger goal: Askarov had an awesome first, and Zellweger zipped it, but the goalie will want that back, I think. JUst went through him.
2 in: Stenberg battles well with Ostlund, good job there, though they're about the same size.
3 in: First and third lines have probably been Sharks' best so far? Dellandrea had a Grade-A, went high and wide. Then Dickinson got blocked. Got to look, feel his block rate is really high.
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7 in: I'm not saying the San Jose Sharks should abandon the stretch pass, but they feel overeliant on it at the moment trying to bust out of the zone. They have guys capable of pulling it off too, but that extended Sabres OZ sequence off an intercepted Sharks' stretch. Earlier, Nurse and Trouba had three entry passes, not stretches, sticked away.
9 in: Whoa, Will Smith of Wizardly Place. Pass behind him by Marchment in slot, he catches it calms, turns to the slot, and finds Misa, who's defended but has multiple whacks at it. Kesselring crashes too, and he and Misa bangs their sticks after Ellis covers.
10 in: San Jose Sharks pushing, Graf misses an outstanding pass by Celebrini, shanked it. That should've been a goal, crowd thought that was going in. Celebrini, after a couple so-so games, back on his BS lol.
Dellandrea penalty: Ty's been having a good game, but that's an ill-timed penalty. Sharks had momentum. Careless with stick.
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San Jose survives the Sabres power play. Quick look, looks like Warsofsky trying to keep Celebrini away from Thompson line, choosing instead to have Dellandrea and Ostapchuk more on Tage. Lots of Celebrini versus Ostlund line.
5 left: Trouba knocks Helenius down hard. Haven't seen enough of that this year from Sharks in general. That's a way to keep them from your net front. Sharks scoreboard runs a "Trouba Train" graphic, need more of that from Jacob.
Benson penalty: Benson buries Stenberg. Sharks absolutely need momentum from this PP. They get it to end period, Marchment and Smith do good job to keep in, Sharks firing away, though all blocked, I think. But all important that this PP gets them off to a good start in the 3rd.
For what it's worth, Buffalo 30-16 shots edge, it's not as ugly 5-on-5, Buffalo 6-5 High-Danger at 5-on-5, after Sabres dominated first.
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Period 3
Just not enough shooting mentality on the power play here. Top unit had possession for a minute and a half, but just one shot.
Gaudette penalty: Another big momentum spot here. If Sabres score here, will be tough for Sharks to come back with their suddenly pop gun attack.
Good kill for Sharks, Nurse-Kesselring back together?
5 left: Sherwood dead in slot after a good Dellandrea line forecheck, huge Ellis save.
3 left: Maybe save of the game for Askarov, coming out on Ostlund by himself. Sharks have to get a point for their goalie tonight.
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